Explore the Atmosphere
Make an animated report
Before you start coding, it is important to plan and research your project.
What are YOU exploring?
This challenge will help you make a project about the layers of the atmosphere, but you can use these ideas and code blocks to make your project about whatever topic you are interested in exploring. Even if you choose to do the layers of the atmosphere, you will want to customize it and make it your own.
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
Do some research:
What are the layers of the atmosphere? What are some key facts about each layer? How high does each layer go? What is the average temperature? What might you find there?
Do your own search or use these resources:
Take notes as you read. If you want, click here to create a new Google Doc for your notes.
What are the layers of the atmosphere? What are some key facts about each layer? How high does each layer go? What is the average temperature? What might you find there?
Do your own search or use these resources:
Take notes as you read. If you want, click here to create a new Google Doc for your notes.
Write a script
The narrator will tell you about where you are in each place you go on this trip. Write a script in your planning document for each location you will visit.
For example, the script for the troposphere might be something like this:
For example, the script for the troposphere might be something like this:
The troposphere is where all the plants and animals live.
Most of the earth's weather happens in the troposphere.
The air is relatively warm and there is a lot of water in the air.
It gets colder as you go up...
Choose, paint, or upload backdrops for the layers of the atmosphere.
Rename the backdrops to the name of the layer so we know which scene it is for. 
Set the scene and tell the viewer about the voyage they are about to take.
Delete the cat
/gifs/delete-scratch.gif
Who will be your travel guide?
Choose a sprite that will be your narrator. If you're exploring the atmosphere, you might want someone who can fly?
Set the stage
Choose a backdrop where you will begin the trip.
Rename the backdrop to Intro so we know which scene it is for.
Rename the backdrop to Intro so we know which scene it is for.
Prepare your sprite?
Move your sprite to where it should start. You might want to make your sprite smaller?
When should we start?
when flag clicked
Using 'My Blocks'
To keep the code more organized, we will use 'My Blocks' so we can name sections of the code. This can make it easier to understand what is happening with different parts of your code and can help if you need to fix bugs later.
Make a 'My Block' called 'Intro':
and add it to your project.
Make a 'My Block' called 'Intro':
and add it to your project.
When flag clicked
intro
Always start on this backdrop
When you start the project, make sure to switch back to the opening backdrop.
switch backdrop to [Intro v]
Where does the sprite start?
Drag your sprite to where you want it to start. Scratch will automatically update the x and y coordinates for you.
go to x () y()
How can you make your sprite talk?
/explore-the-atmosphere/intro-say.gif
Say what?
say [Let's explore the layers of the atmosphere!] for (2) seconds
How can you make it fly to the top?
What is the y coordinate at the top?
Make it fly smoothly up!
Choose an x coordinate that looks good to you.
glide (2) secs to x () y (180)
Type this backwards to unlock:
Peek at the code
when flag clicked
intro
define intro
switch backdrop to [Your Backdrop v]
go to x (0) y (-100)
say [Let's explore the layers of the atmosphere!] for (2) seconds
glide (2) secs to x () y (180)
Switching costumes quickly can make your sprite seem like it is moving.
Basics of animating costumes
Many of the flying sprites have multiple costumes that you can use to make it look like they are flying. If the one you chose doesn't, you might be able to duplicate it and make your own new costumes? Or skip this step and keep going on your journey.
There are different ways to animate sprites. You might want to look at the walking animation challenge to see one simple way.
In this challenge, we want to be able to start and stop the animation. We will use a variable to do that.
There are different ways to animate sprites. You might want to look at the walking animation challenge to see one simple way.
In this challenge, we want to be able to start and stop the animation. We will use a variable to do that.
Make a variable
Make a variable named flying.
What's the value of the flying variable when you start?
define intro
set [flying v] to [false] // Add this block
switch backdrop to [Your Backdrop v]
go to x (0) y (-100)
say [Let's explore the layers of the atmosphere!] for (2) seconds
glide (2) secs to x () y (180)
When will you start flying?
define intro
set [flying v] to [false]
switch backdrop to [Your Backdrop v]
go to x (0) y (-100)
say [Let's explore the layers of the atmosphere!] for (2) seconds
set [flying v] to [true] // Add this block
glide (2) secs to x () y (180)
How can you keep checking if flying is true?
Using the if-then-else block lets us set the default value if we are not flying.
when flag clicked
forever
if < > then
else
What do you put in the condition for the if block?
(flying) = [true]
Animate the flying costumes
switch costume to [rocketship-a v](If you're using a different sprite, the names of your costumes will be different.)
wait (0.1) secs
switch costume to [rocketship-b v]
wait (0.1) secs
switch costume to [rocketship-c v]
wait (0.1) secs
switch costume to [rocketship-d v]
wait (0.1) secs
What should happen if you're not flying?
switch costume to [rocketship-e v](Or the name of a non-flying costume.)
Type this backwards to unlock:
See it all together
when flag clicked
forever
if < (flying) = [true] > then
switch costume to [rocketship-a v]
wait (0.1) secs
switch costume to [rocketship-b v]
wait (0.1) secs
switch costume to [rocketship-c v]
wait (0.1) secs
switch costume to [rocketship-d v]
wait (0.1) secs
else
switch costume to [rocketship-e v]
end
define intro
set [flying v] to [false] // Add this block
switch backdrop to [Your Backdrop v]
go to x (0) y (-100)
say [Let's explore the layers of the atmosphere!] for (2) seconds
set [flying v] to [true] // Add this block
glide (2) secs to x () y (180)
Visit the lowest layer of the atmosphere.
Make a My Block
Make a My Block called troposphere and add it to your code.
when flag clicked
intro
troposphere // Add this block
Show the right backdrop
define troposphere
switch backdrop to [Troposphere v]
Where should you enter the troposphere?
Drag your sprite to the place it should enter from and get this code block. Your numbers will vary depending on where you put it.
go to x(-150) y(180)
Rotate the sprite
Turn your sprite so it points towards where it will land in the troposphere. Then use that angle in this code block.
point in direction ()
Fly into the troposphere
Drag your sprite to the the landing spot. Then get this block. Your numbers will be different.
glide (2) secs to x (90) y(-90)
How can we animate turning to face up again?
repeat ()
turn left () degrees
wait (0.1) seconds
How many times should we turn?
There are many answers to this; it depends on how fast you want to turn.
If you repeat the turn 10 times, you just need to divide the degrees you want to turn by 10.
If you repeat the turn 10 times, you just need to divide the degrees you want to turn by 10.
repeat (10)
turn left () degrees
wait (0.1) seconds
How many degrees do you need to turn each time?
Most sprites are vertical at 90 degrees. What direction are you pointing now?
In this example, we turned to face -128 degrees. We need to turn left 142 degrees to face 90 degrees again.
You might find these formulas handy:
e.g. 270 + (-128) = 142 degrees
Here's another example. Your sprite is pointing in direction -60 degrees and you want to rotate to the right.
90 - (-60) = 150 degrees
Or use trial and error until you figure it out...
In this example, we turned to face -128 degrees. We need to turn left 142 degrees to face 90 degrees again.
You might find these formulas handy:
Rotate left:
270 + the angle you're facing = total degrees
e.g. 270 + (-128) = 142 degrees
Here's another example. Your sprite is pointing in direction -60 degrees and you want to rotate to the right.
Rotate right:
90 - the angle you're facing = total degrees
90 - (-60) = 150 degrees
Or use trial and error until you figure it out...
Type this backwards to unlock:
Example rotating code
repeat (10)
turn left (14.2) degrees
wait (0.1) seconds
Land
set [flying v] to [false]
Use the information you collected in your research to teach people about this layer of the atmosphere.
Temperature?
You can use a variable to display the average temperature in the troposphere. Make a variable and name it Temperature.
Temperature
define troposphere
switch backdrop to [troposphere v]
set [Temperature v] to [?] // add this block to your code
Altitude?
How high does the troposphere go? Make two variables and name them Minimum Altitude and Maximum Altitude.
Altitude
define troposphere
switch backdrop to [troposphere v]
set [Temperature v] to [?]
set [Minimum Altitude v] to [?] // add this block
set [Maximum Altitude v] to [?] // add this block
Showing and hiding variables
It will look nicer if we don't show the variables in the intro scene. You can hide them until you get to the troposphere.
define intro
hide variable [Temperature v] // add this block
hide variable [Minimum Altitude v] // add this block
hide variable [Maximum Altitude v] // add this block
define troposphere
switch backdrop to [troposphere v]
set [Temperature v] to [?]
set [Minimum Altitude v] to [?]
set [Maximum Altitude v] to [?]
show variable [Temperature v] // add this block
show variable [Minimum Altitude v] // add this block
show variable [Maximum Altitude v] // add this block
Narration
How can the narrator tell us about the troposphere? Which blocks can you use?
Narration
There are a lot of ways to speak in Scratch. Choose one of these:
say [The troposphere is where all the plants and animals live.] for (2) seconds
speak [Most of the earth's weather occurs in the troposphere.] :: tts
play sound [Record your voice v] until done
Can you add other sprites, like an animal?
In the troposphere you might see animals.
Animate other sprites
when backdrop switches to [intro v]Use the wait block to have it appear when you want it to. You can use this same technique to add sprites to other layers also.
hide
when backdrop switches to [troposphere v]
wait (3) seconds
go to x (240) y (90)
show
glide (4) secs to x (-240) y (90)
hide
It's time to move on to the stratosphere!
How do you restart the flying animation?
set [flying v] to [true]
Animate the temperature dropping
You could use a glide block to fly away, but there is another way to move if you also want to animate the temperature dropping as you fly to higher altitudes.
repeat ()How cold is it at the top of the troposphere? How many times should you repeat this?
change y by ()
change [Temperature v] by (-1)
Type this backwards to unlock:
One solution
Your code might look something like this:
repeat (80)
change y by (3)
change [Temperature v] by (-1)
It's time to move on to the stratosphere!
Make a new block
when flag clicked
intro
troposphere
stratosphere // add this block
Show the next backdrop
define stratosphere
switch backdrop to [stratosphere v]
Set temperature and altitude variables
What's it like in the stratosphere?
set [Temperature v] to [?]
set [Minimum Altitude v] to [?]
set [Maximum Altitude v] to [?]
Fly into the scene
Where will you enter from?
go to x () y ()Where will you fly to?
glide (2) secs to x () y ()
Stratosphere facts
Tell us about the stratosphere
say [] for (2) seconds
The temperature rises as you leave the stratosphere
Ozone absorbs energy from the sun and makes it warmer as you go higher in the stratosphere
repeat (40)
change y by (3)
change [Temperature v] by (1)
end
repeat (20)
change y by (3) // Get all the way to the mesosphere
On to the mesosphere!
Repeat the steps for the stratosphere
- Make a My Block
- Set variable values
- Fly into the scene
- Tell us facts about this layer
- Leave the scene
Meteors!
Cool fact about the mesosphere: Meteors that enter the atmosphere often burn up here!
Can you animate meteors flying into the stage and burning up? Try to figure it out on your own or use these clues.
Can you animate meteors flying into the stage and burning up? Try to figure it out on your own or use these clues.
Add a meteor sprite
There are many ways to do this. Here's a relatively simple one.
First, add a meteor sprite, either from the library, or paint or upload one.
First, add a meteor sprite, either from the library, or paint or upload one.
How many meteors?
Meteors often come in showers. We can use the clone block to make lots of meteors.
When cloning, you often want to hide the original sprite.
When cloning, you often want to hide the original sprite.
when flag clickedHow many do you want to make?
hide
when backdrop switches to [mesosphere v]
wait (2) seconds // Delay while the rocket flies in?
repeat ()
create clone of [myself v]
wait (pick random (0.5) to (1)) seconds>
How can you make the clones appear?
when i start as a clone
show
Where should they start?
It depends, but often meteor showers seem to come from just one part of the sky.
go to x() y()
Shoot across the sky!
glide (0.5) secs to [random position v]
Disappear
Meteors usually burn up in the atmosphere, but you should also get in the habit of deleting clones when you are done with them. Scratch has a limit to how many you can add.
delete this clone
Burning up?
You could animate costumes to make it look like the meteors are burning up, but this looks ok too.
when i start as a clone
set [ghost v] effect to (0)
repeat (5)
change [ghost v] effect by (20)
wait (0.1) seconds
Type this backwards to unlock:
Full meteor code
when flag clicked
hide
end
when backdrop switches to [mesosphere v]
wait (2) seconds // Delay while the rocket flies in?
repeat ()
create clone of [myself v]
wait (pick random (0.5) to (1)) seconds>
when i start as a clone
show
go to x() y()
glide (0.5) secs to [random position v]
delete this clone
when i start as a clone
set [ghost v] effect to (0)
repeat (5)
change [ghost v] effect by (20)
wait (0.1) seconds
Leaving the thermosphere
repeat (60)
change y by (3)
The thermosphere, ionosphere, exosphere...
You can do it!
There are some really cool things in the outer layers of the atmosphere. Now that you know the basic steps, see if you can finish these layers on your own.
Aurora Borealis
The northern lights (or Aurora Borealis) occurs in the thermosphere. Can you make something like this in Scratch?
It's hot up there!
It can get up to 3000 degrees celsius in the thermosphere. Make sure you're safe!
Where would you find satelites?
Can you tell us about satelites and how they orbit the earth?
Add your project to the Studio and see how other people made their projects.
Studio