Investigation - Trigonometric Functions

Part 1
The effect of parameter “k” is described ​relative​ to the ​original graph​ (​shown as dotted line​)
a) y = k sinx ​(k = 1, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the amplitude of the sine graph.

If k > 1,​ the amplitude of graph is increased.
If 0 < k < 1​, the amplitude of graph is decreased.
If k < 0,​ the graph is reflected across the x-axis.
[​NOTE:​ ​If -1 < k < 0​, the amplitude of graph is both decreased and reflected across the x-axis]

b) y = k cosx ​(k = 1, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the amplitude of the cosine graph.

If k > 1,​ the amplitude of graph is increased.
If 0 < k < 1​, amplitude of graph is decreased.
If k < 0,​ the graph is reflected across the x-axis.
[​NOTE: If -1 < k < 0​, the amplitude of graph is both decreased and reflected across the x-axis]
c) y = k tanx (​ k = 1, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the “vertical stretch” of the tangent graph.

If k > 1,​ all y ordinates on the graph are “stretched” vertically.
If 0 < k < 1​, all y ordinates on the graph are “squashed” vertically.
If k < 0,​ the graph is reflected across the x-axis.
[​NOTE: If ​-1 < k < 0​, all y ordinates on the graph are “squashed” vertically and reflected across
the x-axis]

For the ​family​ of graphs in the form y = k f(x), the parameter k affects the value of the y
ordinates. Every y ordinate is multiplied by k units.
In the sine and cosine functions, this k variable affects the amplitude of the graph.
In the tangent function, the k variable affects the vertical stretch of the graph, giving each
point a higher gradient.

It is also worth noting that if k = 0, all graphs would be a straight line at y = 0.

d) y = sin kx (​ k = 1, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, k​ = -1​)

The k parameter affects the frequency of the sine graph.

If k > 1,​ the frequency of graph is increased.
If 0 < k < 1​, the frequency of graph is decreased.
If k < 0,​ the graph is reflected across the x-axis.
[​NOTE: If -1 < k < 0​, the frequency of graph is both decreased and reflected across the x-axis]

e) y = cos kx ​(k = 1, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the frequency of the cosine graph.

If k > 1,​ the frequency of graph is increased.
If 0 < k < 1​, the frequency of graph is decreased.
If k < 0,​ the frequency of graph acts the same way as ​k > 0​ (because cosine is an even function)
[​NOTE: If -1 < k < 0​, the frequency of graph is decreased, but not reflected (cosine is even)]
f) y = tan kx (​ k = 1, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, k​ = -1​)

The k parameter affects the “frequency” of the tangent graph.

If k > 1,​ the frequency of the graph is increased.
If 0 < k < 1,​ the frequency of the graph is decreased
If k < 0,​ the graph is reflected across the y-axis.
[​NOTE: If -1 < k < 0​, the frequency of graph is decreased, not reflected as cosine is even]

For the ​family​ of graphs in the form y = f(kx), the parameter k affects the frequency of the
graphs.

It is also worth noting that if k = 0, the graphs in this family would produce constants.
If k = 0, graph d produces y = 0, graph e produces y = 1 and graph f produces y = 0.
g) y = sinx + k (​ k = 0, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the vertical shift of the sine graph.

If k > 0,​ the graph is shifted vertically up by k units.
If k < 0,​ the graph is shifted vertically down by k units.

h) y = cosx + k ​(k = 0, ​k = 3​, k​ = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the vertical shift of the cosine graph.

If k > 0,​ the graph is shifted vertically up by k units.
If k < 0,​ the graph is shifted vertically down by k units.
i) y = tanx + k ​(k = 0, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, k​ = -1​)

The k parameter affects the vertical shift of the tangent graph.

If k > 0,​ the graph is shifted vertically up by k units.
If k < 0,​ the graph is shifted vertically down by k units.

For the ​family​ of graphs in the form y = f(x) + k, the parameter k affects where the
equilibrium line of the graph is. In other words, the graphs are shifted vertically by k units.
j) y = sin(k+x) (​ k = 0, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the horizontal shift of the sine graph.

If k > 0,​ the graph is shifted horizontally left by k units.
If k < 0,​ the graph is horizontally right by k units.

k) y = cos(k+x) ​(k = 0, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the horizontal shift of the cosine graph.

If k > 0,​ the graph is shifted horizontally left by k units.
If k < 0,​ the graph is horizontally right by k units.
l) y = tan(k+x) (​ k = 0, ​k = 3​, ​k = 0.5​, ​k = -1​)

The k parameter affects the horizontal shift of the tangent graph.

If k > 0,​ the graph is shifted horizontally left by k units.
If k < 0,​ the graph is horizontally right by k units.

For the family of graphs in the form y = f(k+x), the parameter k affects where the graphs
are on the x-axis. In other words, the graphs are shifted horizontally by k units.
Part 2
Applications of Sinusoidal Waves
Waves are all around us in our everyday lives. Everything from
mechanical waves like the sound of a plucked guitar string,
electromagnetic waves such as visible light and astronomical features
like the duration of sunlight can be modelled using sinusoidal functions.
Sinusoidal functions are frequently used in fields of mathematics and
engineering to predict outcomes and build models to explain physical
phenomena.
For example, alternating current is the type of current that is used
when transmitting electricity across long distances through power lines.
Electrical engineers use sine and cosine functions to model and
understand the flow of alternating current.

An oscilloscope is a device which displays patterns of electrical

waves on the screen of a cathode ray tube. Voltage is displayed on
the y-axis and time is displayed on the x-axis. Oscilloscope devices
can be used to determine the amplitude and frequency of an
oscillating signal. This is useful in the design and troubleshooting of
electrical circuits. Oscilloscopes can also be used to ​produce
oscillating signals. For example, the electrical outputs of the device
can be connected in a circuit with a speaker in order to convert these signals into audio
tones. This can be used to demonstrate how the amplitude of a sound wave determines
its volume and that the frequency of a sound wave determines its pitch.

Part 3
Born on February 15, 1564, Galileo Galilei was an Italian mathematician,
physicist and astronomer who is considered to be the father of modern
science. He is partially credited for the development of the scientific method,
progressing philosophical ponder into the realm of experiment.

Galileo invented many things in his lifetime. These include the hydrostatic
balance, the pendulum and the Galileo thermometer. He also made massive
contributions to astronomy and is considered one of the greatest astronomers
of all time. Galileo made big improvements to the optical telescope. Using his
telescope he discovered the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn.

The popular belief at the time was that the Earth was the centre of the universe
but Galileo used his astronomical observations to determine that the ​sun is the
centre of the solar system. The Catholic church of Rome considered these
discoveries to be heresy and sentenced Galileo to life imprisonment. He died
on the 8th January, 1642 from an illness. He will be remembered for his life, his
inventions and his contribution to science.
Bibliography
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Helden, A. (2019). ​Galileo | Biography, Discoveries, & Facts.​ [online] Encyclopedia Britannica.
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Galileo-Galilei#ref8440 [Accessed 15 Mar.
2019].

Plotner, T. (2019). ​What is Galileo's Telescope? - Universe Today.​ [online] Universe Today.
Available at: https://www.universetoday.com/15763/galileos-telescope/ [Accessed 15 Mar.
2019].

What is. (2019). ​oscilloscope.​ [online] Available at:

https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/oscilloscope [Accessed 15 Mar. 2019].

Writers, H. (2019). ​Galileo Galilei.​ [online] HISTORY. Available at:

https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/galileo-galilei [Accessed 15 Mar. 2019].

Photo Source Links

Photo 1 (Powerlines)​:
Kury, T. (2019). ​Should power lines go underground?​. [online] News.ufl.edu. Available at:
http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2017/09/should-power-lines-go-underground.html [Accessed 17 Mar. 2019].

Photo 2 (Oscilloscope)​:
Buris, M. (2019). ​What Exactly Is an Oscilloscope and What Does It Do?.​ [online] Lifewire. Available at:
https://www.lifewire.com/types-of-oscilloscopes-818977 [Accessed 17 Mar. 2019].

Photo 3 (Galileo)​:
Kelly, L. (2019). ​What Were Galileo's Contributions to Physics?.​ [online] Owlcation. Available at:
https://owlcation.com/stem/What-Were-Galileos-Contributions-to-Physics [Accessed 16 Mar. 2019].

Photo 4 (Telescope)​:
Helden, A. (2019). ​Galileo | Biography, Discoveries, & Facts.​ [online] Encyclopedia Britannica. Available
at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Galileo-Galilei/media/224058/2916 [Accessed 17 Mar. 2019].