Question

Large bodies cool more slowly and are more likely to retain internal heat and be geologically active, capable of resurfacing the planet and obliterating craters. What is the reason behind this phenomenon?

1) The larger bodies have a higher surface area to volume ratio, allowing them to cool more slowly.
2) The larger bodies have a higher heat capacity, allowing them to retain internal heat for longer periods of time.
3) The larger bodies have a thicker atmosphere, which traps heat and prevents it from escaping into space.
4) The larger bodies have a higher concentration of radioactive elements, which generate heat through radioactive decay.

Answer 1

Large bodies cool more slowly and retain internal heat due to their size and heat capacity. For example, giant planets can still retain primordial heat from their formation and cool more slowly than smaller objects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason behind the phenomenon of large bodies cooling more slowly and retaining internal heat is primarily due to their size and mass. Larger bodies have a higher heat capacity, which allows them to retain internal heat for longer periods of time. For example, giant planets like Jupiter were heated during their formation by the collapse of surrounding material onto their cores, and they can still retain some of this primordial heat. Additionally, the larger the planet or moon, the more slowly it cools, similar to a hot baked potato cooling more slowly than a small one.