Tidal Heating Io-Style Flux W/m2 Calculator
Synchronous low-eccentricity constant-Q eccentricity tidal heating divided by surface area; no obliquity/resonance or thermal evolution.
Description
Tidal Heating Io-Style Flux W/m2 Calculator: return approximate flux w per m2.
Tidal dissipation can turn orbital forcing into internal heat. A simplified surface-flux estimate depends strongly on radius, orbital distance and eccentricity.
This tool returns approximate flux w per m2. Use the stated units and model convention when interpreting these fields.
When to use this tool
Use this tool when the supplied inputs match the specific operation described above and you need a repeatable result under its stated convention.
- Check the supported input and output contract against an existing calculation or observation.
- Use the complete example to confirm units, selector spelling and result interpretation.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter every field in the input table using the stated units and the exact supported selector spelling where applicable.
- Run the tool. Correct input errors before interpreting an output.
- Read the result fields below; use accompanying flags and the stated sign, boundary or model convention when interpreting a number.
Apply the small-eccentricity tidal-flux expression with the supplied Love number, Q, primary mass and orbital mean motion. Require eccentricity between zero and 0.1 and a body smaller than its orbit.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| primaryMassKg | Primary mass kg. Kilograms. | Finite number |
| radiusMeters | Radius meters. | Finite number |
| semimajorMeters | Semimajor meters. | Finite number |
| eccentricity | Eccentricity. | Finite number; from 0 to 0.1 inclusive |
| loveNumber | Love number. | Finite number |
| dissipationQ | Dissipation q. | Finite number |
| Output field | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| result | Object containing the following named result fields. |
| result.approximateFluxWPerM2 | Approximate flux wper m2; use the stated units and sign convention. |
{
"input": {
"primaryMassKg": 100000000000000000000,
"radiusMeters": 100000,
"semimajorMeters": 10000000,
"eccentricity": 0.01,
"loveNumber": 0.1,
"dissipationQ": 100
},
"output": {
"result": {
"approximateFluxWPerM2": 1.4407479839246263e-10
}
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- The approximation does not solve coupled spin-orbit evolution, variable dissipation or an interior model.
- Every declared field is required and unexpected fields are rejected. Numeric inputs must be finite; input errors are distinct from a valid false result or an explicitly qualified output.
- Extremely large inputs and nonfinite or excessively large outputs are rejected. List positions reported by the tool use zero-based indices unless stated otherwise.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Check the underlying observations, units and conventions independently before using the result in a larger workflow. The tools listed below address nearby tasks; compare their inputs and scope before substituting one for this operation.
References
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