Ep 4. Why Is The Sky Blue?

Ask the Storybots is an educational animated series that follows a group of curious little robots called Storybots who love answering questions that come from children. They take us on a journey to different places, meet interesting people and creatures, and explore new concepts to help us understand the world around us.

In season 1 episode 4, the Storybots are asked the question "Why Is the Sky Blue?" by a young girl named Lucy. The episode begins with the Storybots on a mission to find the answer to Lucy's question. They venture out into the world and meet a wise old owl who tells them that the sky looks blue because of a phenomenon called 'Rayleigh scattering'.

Rayleigh scattering is when sunlight enters Earth's atmosphere and is scattered by the gases and particles in the air. When it reaches Earth, the blue light waves from the Sun have shorter wavelengths and scatter more in all directions than the other colours, which have longer wavelengths. This means that we see more blue light reflecting off particles in the air than other colours, making the sky appear blue.

The Storybots are fascinated by this explanation but want to see it for themselves. They decide to go up into the sky to see if it really is blue or if that's just how it appears from the ground. They hop on a hot air balloon and start to ascend into the sky, marveling at how the sky goes from blue to black as they rise. They also see the sun, which is a much brighter and warmer colour than its reflection in the blue sky.

As they continue to rise, they see different formations of clouds and begin to notice that the colour of the sky changes depending on the time of day and the weather conditions. They learn that the sky can look pink, orange, red, and yellow during sunrise and sunset because the Sun's light has to pass through more of Earth's atmosphere, scattering more light waves and creating a colourful spectacle.

Eventually, the Storybots reach the edge of space but are disappointed to find that the sky isn't blue anymore. It's just black, with billions of stars twinkling in the distance. They realize that the blue sky is a unique feature of our planet and that the more they learn about it, the more they appreciate it.

Back on Earth, the Storybots tell Lucy what they learned and she's thrilled to discover the science behind something she sees every day. She thanks the Storybots and goes outside to look at the sky with new eyes, noticing the different shades of blue and the clouds passing by.

"Why Is the Sky Blue?" is an excellent episode that introduces children to the concept of Rayleigh scattering and how it affects the appearance of the sky. It's a fun and interactive way to teach children about science and nature, and it encourages them to be curious about the world around them. The animation is colourful and engaging, and the Storybots are lovable characters that children will want to interact with and learn from. It's a great addition to any parent or teacher's lesson plan.