# SHM question involving a tunnel through earth

## Homework Statement

A tunnel is bored through the centre of the Earth from Liverpool to New Zealand and a travel pod is dropped into it. The gravitational force on the pod is proportional to its distance from the centre of the Earth and so it undergoes simple harmonic motion described by

z=R0cos$\omega$t

where

z=position relative to the centre of the Earth
$\omega$=1.2*10-3rads-1

1) What is the velocity of the pod when it reaches the centre of the Earth?

2) How long does the pod take to travel to the opposite side of the Earth?

## Homework Equations

The one displayed above

## The Attempt at a Solution

For question 1) since its at the centre of the Earth z=0 giving:
0=R0cos$\omega$t
cos$\omega$t=0
$\omega$t=1
t=1/$\omega$
and thats where I hit a dead end. I know my approach is completely wrong since the end result for velocity is faster than the speed of light however I don't know exactly how to remedy this situation. Any hints will be greatly appreciated as this is frustrating me how I can't answer a basic SHM question like this.

## The Attempt at a Solution

SammyS
Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
Gold Member
I don't see how you calculated velocity at all.

What did you get for the time to reach the center of the Earth?

What's the period of this motion?

What is dz/dt as a function of t?

Doesn't matter, I worked it out now. Thanks for the reply anyway.