key term - Tidal heating

Definition

Tidal heating is the process by which a satellite's interior is heated due to gravitational interactions with its parent planet and possibly other nearby moons. This heating results from the friction generated as the moon's shape is continuously deformed by varying tidal forces.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tidal heating is responsible for the volcanic activity observed on Jupiter's moon Io.
2. The eccentric orbit of a moon contributes to tidal heating by causing variations in gravitational forces.
3. Europa, another Galilean moon, may have a subsurface ocean kept liquid due to tidal heating.
4. Ganymede, despite being less geologically active, shows evidence of past tectonic activity likely influenced by tidal heating.
5. Tidal heating can lead to significant geological changes over time, including internal differentiation and surface reshaping.

Review Questions

Related terms

Eccentric Orbit: An elliptical orbital path that leads to varying distances between a moon and its parent planet

Gravitational Interactions:

The force exerted by two bodies on each other due to their masses, influencing their motions and shapes

Volcanism:

The eruption of molten rock (magma) onto the surface of a celestial body, often driven by internal heat sources such as tidal heating