Explain · analogy · Like I'm five version
What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning in terms of a playground roundabout that suddenly stops
What happens if the Earth stops spinning is just like a playground roundabout coming to a sudden, bumpy halt.
The Earth is always spinning around like a very fast merry-go-round in the park. Everything on the ground is spinning with it, including your house, the big trees, and even your favourite blue bike. If the Earth stopped spinning, everything that is not held down tight would keep on moving forward very quickly. It would be a bit like someone pulling the emergency brake on a ride while you are still trying to hold your juice box.
If the world stopped, people and things would tumble forward because they were used to moving. The air outside would also keep moving, creating wind stronger than the biggest storm you can imagine. The water in the deep, blue oceans would slosh over the land like soup in a bowl when you tip it over. It would be very messy, very fast, and not at all like a gentle game of tag in the garden.
After the big stop, one side of the Earth would face the sun all the time and get very hot, while the other side would stay dark and cold. The days would last for months, and we would have to learn how to live in a place that is either a giant oven or a big freezer. It would be a very strange world to live in, especially when you are trying to remember if it is time for breakfast or for bed.
Where the analogy breaks downThe Earth is a planet made of rock and liquid, not a metal toy that can actually be grabbed or stopped by a person.