Why is Callisto geologically inactive compared to Io or Europa?
Answer
Tidal forces acting upon it diminish rapidly with distance from Jupiter.
Callisto resides much farther from Jupiter, causing tidal forces to diminish rapidly with distance cubed, thus lacking the frictional heat necessary to drive widespread current geological activity.
Related Questions
What is the most potent cause for sustained geological activity on moons far from the Sun?Why does Io lack visible impact craters on its surface?When is tidal heating maximized according to orbital mechanics?What geological feature on Earth's Moon suggests relatively recent, minor tectonic readjustment?Why is Callisto geologically inactive compared to Io or Europa?What observation provides evidence of Enceladus's current geological vitality?What links the presence of subsurface liquid water oceans on both Europa and Enceladus?When analyzing the comparison table, what factor is often more critical than a moon's size in determining its current internal temperature profile?How might Callisto's potential subsurface ocean differ fundamentally from Europa's ocean based on heating mechanisms?What two competing processes define the geological state of a moon, according to the final summary?