# Drilling a hole straight through a planet (Physics question)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578 "2003-08-16T13:49:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578/1 "2003-08-16T13:49:05Z")

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I’ve been wondering something lately. If it were possible to drill a hole straight through the Earth from one side to another (Yes, yes, molten core, magma, etc. Pretend it’s not a problem.), what would happen if you fell into the hole? Would you get stuck somewhere along because you got close to the planet’s center of gravity, or would you go straight out the other end of the hole?

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**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578/2 "2003-08-16T13:52:04Z")

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[The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_165.html)

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**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578/3 "2003-08-16T13:52:20Z")

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[Ask, and Cecil shall provide](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_165.html).

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**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578/4 "2003-08-16T13:57:23Z")

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I thought it might be something like that, actually.

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**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578/5 "2003-08-16T13:59:29Z")

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The only question now is: “Why the \*\*\*\* didn’t I check the archives first?” :smack:

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**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drilling-a-hole-straight-through-a-planet-physics-question/195578/6 "2003-08-16T14:08:46Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \*  
> \*\*The only question now is: “Why the \*\*\*\* didn’t I check the archives first?” :smack: \*\*

You must now flog yourself twenty times with a copy of “More of the Straight Dope” (ISBN 0-345-35145-2).

Go forth, and sin no more.  
😃