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Why is it certainly tidally locked when Mercury is not?

• ncmncm 5y ago
  Mercury orbits in 88 days. This other place orbits in 5 days. And Mercury is almost tidally locked. Venus will be, before long.
  • ErikCorry 5y ago
    Thx
  • jrumbut 5y ago
    For us kids at the back of the class, how are those two facts related? Why couldn't something orbit the star fast without being tidally locked?
    • s1artibartfast 5y ago
      Rotational drag depends on distance between the star and planet. Planets with fast orbits are closer to the star and get more drag- hence more likely to be locked.