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Modeling the Motion

of

a Spring

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

equilibrium position.)

If we neglect any damping forces (air

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

x(r1=Iqsin(alr) + xo cos(arl)
a)

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

Model the motion of a rveight 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 a; = 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.)

x(t)zT>,
-t0)

Li)

* gGsbd

JS'^tLb 5G4ril

2) Graphthe separate sine and cosine components of your function from (1) on the same
set of axes. That is

gaph 4

Iqsin(or) and x,

: xo cos(oI) on the set of axes below.

a)

(Sketch these graphs by hand and show two full cycles.)

sLsAt)
L9,nk*)

-z 3.
Cr -Y,

5tn

-I

-2
-3
-5

$r
?=

?t-

ry

3) Use a graphing caiculator (or online graphing utility) to graph the entire function from
part (1). Use the window settings indicated below. Sketch what you see on your
calculator display.

xmin:0
xmax:2tr
xscl: f .7f
Ymin: -5
ymax:5

yscl:

2\?

9,b
4) Write an equation for your calculator graph in the form x(t1 = Acos[B(t - C)]. (Use
the trace or maximum feature of your graphing utility to help you find values for A, B,
and C. I expect to see decimal approximations for these values.)

1,6LoE&-tq

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

LIlo^

/Uy Wg*/6

4*t= b.a"-'.1

3b+kl

'?.-l )r"*'k CL'"K4, LL3*7k

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Part

II:

6) hove that the following is an ide,ntity (A is a positive constmt) by fflling intre blanks
below.

Asin{sn(ox)+ /cosf cos(a) =

A sin $ sin(at) + A

Acxrdox

-0
Factor our A

cos $ cos(arr)

Comnutative Propeqv of
.{ddirion

.l fccs

,,

u.,: -, -

si: rri ,s:r: o]

Commutative Properr.r

oi

\{ultipl icarion
Diflerence idendl for
cosine

Part III:
Rewrite an expression of the form

sin(ar) +

Acos(at

-/).

cos(arr) =

E siM si n(at) +l ;

*#l .or (atr) interms of a cosine function:

Use the following definitions and your result from part

o : Asini= shd:?^^lI r""o=?1

tao6:c'
@

l-

:Aoosl+*):2)

II:

/.vt){#s:*r
A/ lc, ,t-. *o*

on, il:luqru

c2

C,

Ca
h

,"phi", is called

nLqqf\
J

U'.e

the phase angle and is

Example: Write 4sin3t +Zcos3t in terms of a cosine function.

H=ffi61,

4sinit + ?.cos3tp

: a-.tE
ton / = *= )/ =t*..'t (.) x, \,\L
1

i\"'

r\-

d\

&Gcos (r+
a.{5

.rtFS-o,tt)]

n.a'"^ ""&" )

(u

qL

A"yd

,;

=i

=%

Lr,kl=S

8) Compare your fi:nction from part 4) and partT). What do you observe? Write a one or

two

seat,nce

explanatioo

.l

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