Plate tectonics on exoplanets/moon.

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter KTevolved
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Plate
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 3K views
KTevolved
Messages
16
Reaction score
1
What would be the minimum mass for an exoplanet or moon to sustain plate tectonics? I would think its 0.2 Earth masses.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Yes 0.2 Earth masses sounds right for the very minimal mass for sustained plate tetonics but you would need water to lubricate the plates. There are other factors that come into play also like rotation, tidal effects of a moon, how much heat the interior has. Even a small planet or moon could have enough heat in the interior.