How does tidal locking occur? Can it be explained purely through the conservation of angular momentum?

Question

vincent-lyon.fr · Answer

and energy dissipation as well, probably.

anonymous · Answer

No.  Tidal locking requires energy dissipation, which is achieved by tidal friction -- either the friction of moving liquid with the sea bottom, or just in the inelastic stretching of the crust of the orbiting satellites.

Solid bodies that do not distort, or which distory purely elastically, would never become tidally locked.