What would happen if the earth stopped spinning?

02/26/25 • 10 min

1 Listener

In this mind-bending episode, Andy explores the wild consequences of what would happen if Earth suddenly stopped rotating. From flying objects to permanent day and night, discover how Earth's spin affects everything on our planet!

Episode Highlights:

Earth's rotation speed: The equator moves at about 1,670 kilometers per hour
The immediate effects if Earth stopped spinning:
- Objects would continue moving eastward at high speeds
- Massive tsunamis would sweep across the land
- Mega-earthquakes and volcanic eruptions would occur
Long-term effects:
- Permanent day on one side and night on the other
- Earth would reshape from bulged to spherical
- Weather patterns would change dramatically
- We might lose our protective magnetic field

Quiz Questions from This Episode:

How fast does the Earth's equator move as our planet spins?
What would happen to the oceans if Earth suddenly stopped spinning?
What shape is the Earth currently because of its rotation?

Fun Facts:

The Earth's rotation creates the Coriolis effect, which influences weather patterns
Earth's magnetic field protects us from harmful solar radiation
Ocean currents act like Earth's built-in thermostat
Earth will continue spinning for billions of years

Connect with The Curious Kidcast:

Have a question for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you!

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.curiouskidcast.com
Don't forget to subscribe and share with your friends!

Episode Highlights:

Earth's rotation speed: The equator moves at about 1,670 kilometers per hour
The immediate effects if Earth stopped spinning:
- Objects would continue moving eastward at high speeds
- Massive tsunamis would sweep across the land
- Mega-earthquakes and volcanic eruptions would occur
Long-term effects:
- Permanent day on one side and night on the other
- Earth would reshape from bulged to spherical
- Weather patterns would change dramatically
- We might lose our protective magnetic field

Quiz Questions from This Episode:

How fast does the Earth's equator move as our planet spins?
What would happen to the oceans if Earth suddenly stopped spinning?
What shape is the Earth currently because of its rotation?

Fun Facts:

The Earth's rotation creates the Coriolis effect, which influences weather patterns
Earth's magnetic field protects us from harmful solar radiation
Ocean currents act like Earth's built-in thermostat
Earth will continue spinning for billions of years

Connect with The Curious Kidcast:

Have a question for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you!

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.curiouskidcast.com
Don't forget to subscribe and share with your friends!

Previous Episode

Why do dogs sniff other dog's butts?

1 Recommendations

In this episode, Andy explores the fascinating world of canine communication, specifically why dogs sniff each other's rear ends when they meet. This seemingly funny behavior is actually a sophisticated form of communication that reveals a lot about how dogs experience and understand their world.

What You'll Learn

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell with up to 300 million scent receptors (compared to our 5 million)
Special anal glands near dogs' tails release unique scents that are like "fingerprints"
Through sniffing, dogs can learn about another dog's identity, health, mood, and more
This behavior comes from wild ancestors like wolves and helps establish social order
Mutual sniffing is a form of canine greeting and can strengthen bonds between dogs

Fun Facts

Each dog has a unique scent, like a smelly ID card
Dogs can tell what another dog had for breakfast just by sniffing
Sniffing behaviors help dogs determine who's in charge
This form of communication doesn't require any barking or sound

Quiz Questions

How many scent receptors do dogs have?
What are the special scent glands near a dog's tail called?
True or False - Dogs sniff butts because they're being rude

Listen to the episode for answers!

Connect With Us

Have a curious question you want answered on the show? Ask your grown-up to help you:

Email: [email protected]
Visit: www.curiouskidcast.com

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Next Episode

What would happen if everyone on earth jumped at the same time?

1 Recommendations

What would happen if all 8 billion people on Earth jumped at the exact same time? In this episode, Andy explores this wild question using science concepts like Newton's third law, momentum, and mass to discover if we could move the Earth, cause earthquakes, or create giant windstorms with one massive synchronized jump.

What We Learned

Newton's third law - "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction"
The Earth weighs approximately 5 with 24 zeros after it (5,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) kilograms
All humans combined weigh about 496 billion kilograms
Momentum depends on both mass and speed
Seismographs are scientific instruments that can detect tiny vibrations in the Earth
Real earthquakes happen when tectonic plates move against each other
There was an internet event called "World Jump Day" that jokingly tried to change Earth's orbit

Quiz Questions

What is Newton's third law about?
How many zeros are there in the Earth's weight when written in kilograms?
What special scientific instrument might be able to detect everyone jumping at once?

Be sure to listen to the podcast to find the answers!

Fun Comparisons

Humans trying to move Earth is like a ladybug trying to push a school bus
The impact of our jump compared to an earthquake is like a tiny bubble pop compared to a giant explosion
The air we'd push would be like a puff compared to a hurricane
It's like an elephant not noticing a flea doing jumping jacks on its back

Learn More