Ellen says that whenever the acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement of an object from its equilibrium position, the motion of the object is simple harmonic motion. Mary says this is true only if the acceleration is opposite in direction to the displacement. Which one, if either, is correct

Both Ellen and Mary are correct.

Explanation:

Both are correct, it's just different ways of saying the same thing.

When the acceleration is always opposite in direction to the displacement, then, the acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement of an object from its equilibrium position

the pull of gravity on the rocket decreases