Quite a common exercise for people studying newtonian gravity for the first time. You're correct - assuming no other forces they'd actually oscillate in simple harmonic motion forever. Add in friction though and the motion would be dampened and they'd eventually end up hovering at the centre.
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Date: 2007-04-30 06:11 am (UTC)You're correct - assuming no other forces they'd actually oscillate in simple harmonic motion forever. Add in friction though and the motion would be dampened and they'd eventually end up hovering at the centre.