Jupiter must have only gained mass over the last say 5 billion years. Let's say (for the sake of any number) Jupiter's mass has doubled in 5 billion years. What affect does this have on it's Moons? Wouldn't this bring them closer- can this explain why Jupiter has rings (or Saturn)- a moon got too close and tidal forces ripped them up.
Oh, I just thought of an idea, could Earth have been a dual planetary sytem- kind of like Pluto/Charon and as the mass of both increased (and they were already (both) tidally lock so nothing is causing them to get further away) they got closer to each other as time passed (each gaining mass and orbiting faster).
Hmm, gets complicated. As they got closer the denser material of both should be most attracted to each. Now, shifting gears here, what happens if you have a beanstalk which "breaks". One part falls to Earth, what about the other part? Well, I think it would go to a higher orbit, but not much higher, and I think it would spin. Now, a beanstalk lacks a significant gravity well, what happens when you add in a gravity well. You are having gravity well collapsing on one body and gaining on a other, could this "affect" how far the Moon is "flung" out?
I don't don't know, sounds complicated. Maybe something like this happenned "somewhere" in this Universe:)
But back to the general question, would planetary object gain mass over time and this added mass would affect the orbits of their Moons?
-gb