Question

A Jovian planet has three moons of similar size, named Eee, Iye, and Re. The innermost of the three, Eee, has large portions of un-cratered surface, while Re and Iye are heavily cratered. This is most likely because:

(a) Eee was formed much later than Re and Iye.
(b) Eee is in an orbital resonance with another moon, causing an elliptical orbit and tidal heating.
(c) Eee is orbiting closer to the sun, so it is warmer than the others, producing geological activity.
(d) Eee was protected from craters by something.
(e) Eee was originally a dwarf planet, but was captured by the larger Jovian planet.

Answer 1

Eee's un-cratered surface is likely a result of internal geological activity due to tidal heating from being in close orbit to its host planet or an orbital resonance with another moon.

Step-by-step explanation:

The innermost moon, Eee, is likely experiencing geological activities due to its proximity to its host planet, leading to large portions of un-cratered surface. The most plausible explanation for this observation is that Eee is undergoing tidal heating as a result of an elliptical orbit possibly caused by an orbital resonance with another moon. This heating can drive internal geologic processes leading to the resurfacing of the moon. Similar phenomena have been observed in the Jovian system of Jupiter, where Io, the innermost of the Galilean moons, exhibits high levels of volcanism due to tidal forces exerted by Jupiter's massive gravity.