Why does tidal heating cease completely once two orbiting bodies become tidally locked?
Answer
The tidal bulge aligns perfectly with the line connecting the centers, eliminating energy dissipation.
Tidal heating relies on the misalignment or ebb and flow of material across the surface; when tidally locked, the deformation (bulge) is static relative to the partner body, resulting in no misalignment and thus no energy dissipation.
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