Tidal locking in a planetary system

Tidal forces and internal friction are what caused the Earth’s moon to slow its rotation so that it is locked into keeping the same side facing the Earth. This same ‘tidal locking ‘effect is also seen elsewhere in the solar system where other large moons around other planets also only show one side to their planet.

(The Great Courses – Black Holes, Tides, and Curved Spacetime: Understanding Gravity)

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