Modeling the Motion

Consider a weight attached to a spring

that is suspended from a horizontal bar
as illustrated in the figure. When the
object comes to rest we say it is at
"equilibrium" which is labeled 0 on the
vertical number line. If you give the
weight a push, either up or down, it will
start to move and the motion can be
modeled by sine and cosine functions.
The "stiffness" of the spring and the
mass of the object affect how far the
object moves from the equilibrium
position. The initial velocity and initial
position also affect the motion of the
spring. (We don't always start at the

of

a Spring

equilibrium position.)

If

we neglect any damping forces (air

resistance etc.) then the motion of the
spring can be modeled by
v^

x(r) = gsin(arl) + xo cos(arl)

Ct)

where x(r) is the position of the object along the number line at time /. The other
quantities are constants: ar is a constant that depends on the stiffiress of the spring and
the mass of the weight, vo is the initial velocity, and xo is ttre initial position of the object.

Model the motion of a weight on a spring:

Suppose a weight is set in motion from a position 3 centimeters below the equilibrium
position and with a downward velocity of 4 centimeters per second. (Please note that the
vertical number line used for position is "upside down". This is a convention from
physics and it means that positions below equilibrium actually correspond to a positive
value.) Assume that the spring stiffness and mass of the weight mean that co = 2 for this
system.

Part I
1) Write the function x(r)that gives the position of the weight as a function of time r in
seconds. (Your function should consist of a sine term and a cosine term.)

t.
\/

,-')''

2) Graph the separate sine and cosine components of your

set of axes. That is graph xr =

bsin(art) and

(Sketch these graphs by hand and show two

xz

= x.cos(a/) on

from (1) on the same

set of axes below.

full cycles.)

K,= }s,nL7+) xa s

co:(

F+

3) Use a graphing calculator (or online graphing utiliry) to graph thr entire function
from
part (1). Use the window settings indicated below. Sketch *hut
vort
on your

calculator display.

xmin:0
xntax:2r
xscl: f,
yrnin:

-5

ltnax:5
yscl = I

4) Write an equation for your calculator gaph in the form x(t) I

=
the trace or maximum feature of your graphing utility to help you
and c. I expect to see decimal approximations for thise values.)

fi,t

,7qq

[t) = 3,Aco: G(+- ,tqDf

B(r-C)1.

(Use

values for A, B,

5) How are the graphs from part 2) related to the graph in part 3)? fue the values tbr
period and amplitude the same or different? Why do you think we see these results?
Please write out your explanation using complete sentences.

hn

aALtlb,t

a-fr pl',b,lt

c+ L\c
Part

II:

6) Prove that the following is an identity (A is a positive constant) by

filling in the blanks

below.

Asin4sn(ot)+ Acos4cos(arr) = Acos(at -d)

A sn Q sn(at) + A cos Q cos(arr)

:Al,

",.1d)r-../,0+ t'Jd\";

Afcos(att) cos

= Acos(rot

Part

-0)

+ sin (cot) sin Ql'

Cbitmutative Properly

of

Addition
Commutative Property

of

Multiplication
Difference identity for
cosine

III:

Rewrite an expression of the form

o
@

sin(ar) +

[]

= Asin|+
c2

l,

Acos|

cos(arr) =

FEM

ri

n(at)+ F

"*

d ros(arr) in terms of a cosine tunction:

sin/:+

= "otO

AII

j)

tan| =ct

c2

is the amplitude of the cosine function and O,

measured in radians.

"ph", is called the phsss angle and is

Example: Write

4 sin 3r + 2 cos

3r in terms of

s=ffit*r'

a cosine

function.

4sin3t+'c"sptrl-a*
&Gcos (r+ -- r,rd

l-

A : a-.tE
V
11
AY
*r

ga{5
{5.o'[.e -o,{

,1

ton/=*=).
/ *tor.t (.) x, \,\e-

Ro*a^

*"d" )

7) Rewrite ybur function from part 1) in terms of a cosine

yourwork.

,.\ n r .
=
\(' f) /an(71\

A=

,ry

function:

Acos(rot

Q)
--/).

Show

| 3.4t)'i )

Aoos("+-CI)
b ),\I
,,fn c6 (
,svg)_,
,3

l{-'F
,Fsn d=!
5; n/'h

fr

^l - ,',i44)-l

c.rs|-lL+

,fS*o*i

btrj'fu
't t Y
*un h r fri
'
6

r- N- , X7 = +
f

4r3 /3-

7f, =
ru

*rr.,-'

(/r)XJ ,5$E

8) compare your function from paft 4) and parr 7). what do you oblerve? write
te a one or
two sentence explanation.

*-I A"q
,Ji\

,|

erL 1-i-

rs-1 :i n pl ,{r dl

tl
!,
I
Sans. eV u^-tlp1l tl ,s