Question

Suppose a tunnel is dug along a diameter of the earth. A particle is dropped from a point, a distance h directly above the tunnel. The motion of the particle as seen from the earth is
(a) simple harmonic
(b) parabolic
(c) on a straight line
(d) periodic

Answer 1

(c) on a straight line
(d) periodic

If the particle were dropped from the surface of the earth, the motion of the particle would be SHM. But when it is dropped from a height h, the motion of the particle is not SHM because there is no horizontal velocity imparted. In that case, the motion of the particle would be periodic and in a straight line.