> The moon is getting a few cm farther from the earth each year, why?
It actually has to do with tides. The moon induces a "bulge" in the Earth, and since the Earth is spinning, this bulge is forced ahead of the Moon in relation to the Earth. This bulge has mass, since it has mass, it has gravity, which adds energy to the Moons orbit. A higher energy orbit equals a higher orbit. BTW, The Moon's gravity also exerts force on the "bulge" which causes a decelleration to the rotation of the Earth. Eventually, the Earth and the Moon will always have the same face towards each other.
Terror