Different Surface Characteristics of Galilean Moons Caused by Tidal Forces from Jupiter

The four Galilean moons of Jupiter have different surface characteristics. There are many reasons that may cause the difference. One of the most important factors is the tidal force from Jupiter, which could generate different tidal heat inside the moons. In order to demonstrate this point, we establish elastic mechanics equation to calculate the displacement in satellites’ interior. We obtain the tidal energy dissipation and surface heat flux of Galilean moons. We also find that the tidal response of Galilean moons is related to physical parameters including the distance from Jupiter, the diameter, the density, the orbital period, which may explain different energy dissipation in their interior.