All the following statements are true. Which one is most important in explaining the tremendous tidal heating that occurs on Io?
A)Io exhibits synchronous rotation, meaning that its rotation period and orbital period are the same.
B)Io orbits Jupiter on an elliptical orbit, due to orbital resonances with other satellites.
C)Io orbits Jupiter in the Io torus, and therefore has a surface that is bombarded by many charged particles.
D)Io is the closest to Jupiter of Jupiter's large moons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The elliptical orbit of Io, caused by orbital resonances with other satellites, leads to varying gravitational forces acting on Io. This variation in force causes Io to flex and distort, a process that generates a significant amount of internal friction and heat, explaining the tremendous tidal heating observed on Io.

All the Following Statements Are True