<p>I have read about about the habitability of red dwarf systems on  <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitability_of_red_dwarf_systems" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>, as well as some web articles on similar topics. The problem is, it does not explain why and how it happened. Google search comes up inconclusive. Since then, it became a riddle for me.</p>

<p>We all know that higher mass supergiant stars have stronger gravity than lower mass dwarf stars. Therefore, I can assume that stronger gravity results in stronger tidal forces as well. So, I can conclude: </p>

<p>High mass star systems <strong>should</strong> have a higher tidal lock probability than lower mass dwarf systems, right? </p>

<p>From that assumption that contradicts the reality, here comes another question:</p>

<p>Does it mean that the tidal lock probability has more to do with the size of the planet relative to the host star size than its mass or gravitational forces? </p>

<p>But here is my other assumption:
Probably a more concentrated (almost point source) of gravity from smaller red dwarf stars locks planets more effectively than a broad giant star.
(It is kind of analogous to a small speaker magnet that has stronger magnetic field compared to the Earth's magnetic field when measured).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-03T19:29:46.693Z
In short, the habitable zone is much closer to the star for red dwarves, and it's the distance from the star that more prominently affects tidal forces.
probably_someone
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-03T22:38:10.677Z
Could this be an artifact of sampling bias? The way we search for exoplanets might give us a false sense of the probabilities because it's much easier to find them around certain types of stars.
eps
<gravity><exoplanet><tidal-forces><tidal-locking><red-dwarf>
Why do planets in red dwarf star systems tend to have a higher probability to get tidally locked?
Yudhi G.
# Why do planets in red dwarf star systems tend to have a higher probability to get tidally locked?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-03)

I have read about about the habitability of red dwarf systems on [Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitability_of_red_dwarf_systems), as well as some web articles on similar topics. The problem is, it does not explain why and how it happened. Google search comes up inconclusive. Since then, it became a riddle for me.

We all know that higher mass supergiant stars have stronger gravity than lower mass dwarf stars. Therefore, I can assume that stronger gravity results in stronger tidal forces as well. So, I can conclude:

High mass star systems **should** have a higher tidal lock probability than lower mass dwarf systems, right?

From that assumption that contradicts the reality, here comes another question:

Does it mean that the tidal lock probability has more to do with the size of the planet relative to the host star size than its mass or gravitational forces?

But here is my other assumption:
Probably a more concentrated (almost point source) of gravity from smaller red dwarf stars locks planets more effectively than a broad giant star.
(It is kind of analogous to a small speaker magnet that has stronger magnetic field compared to the Earth's magnetic field when measured).

**Tags:** gravity, exoplanet, tidal-forces, tidal-locking, red-dwarf

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In short, the habitable zone is much closer to the star for red dwarves, and it's the distance from the star that more prominently affects tidal forces.  
> **username_2**: Could this be an artifact of sampling bias? The way we search for exoplanets might give us a false sense of the probabilities because it's much easier to find them around certain types of stars.  

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## 0 answers

