Modeling the Modon of a Spring

Consider a weight attached to a spilng

that is suspended from a horizontal bar
as illustrated in the figue. When the
object comss to rsst ws sey it is at *s
"equilibrium'o whioh is labeled 0 on the
vertical number line. If you give the
weight apush, either up or dowr, it will
*4
start to moveaud ths motion oan be
modeled by sine and oosiue funotions, x,7l
The "stiffiress" of the spring and the
mass of the objeot affect how far the
0
object movos from the equilibrium
position. The initial velocity and initial
position also afflEot the motion of the 2,
spring. (We don't always start at the -----4

equilibrium position,) 4
If we neglect any damping foroes (air 6
resistance etc,) then the motion of the
spring can be modeled by

r(r) = bsin(air)+xo cos(a:/)

where x(r)is the position of the object along the number line at time l. The other
quantities are constants: al is a constant that depends on the stiftess of the spring and
the mass.of the waight, vois the initial velocity, and xois the initial position of the objeot,

Model the motiorr of a weight on a spring:

Suppose a weight is set in motion from a position 3 centimeters below the equiiibrium
position and with a dawtw$d velocity of4 note that the
vertical number lino used for position is down". This is a convention from
physics and it means that positions beiow equilibrium aotually couespond to a positive
value.) Assume that the spling stiffness and mass of the weight mean that ar = 2 forthis
system.

Fart I
1) Write thefunction r(r)that gives tho position of the weight as a fimction of time r in
seconds. fYour fiuction should consist of a sine term and a cosine lerm.)

Io', 't', t
!i,'- *'i )i{d * *),ut^(tt} ,?r t,,r,la+}

br. I.
2) Graph the separate sine and cosine components of your funotion ftom (1) on the same
Ssin(arr) and x, = r0 gos(a7r )on the set of axes below.
set of axes, That is $aph xr =
h, , -,?*i^(11)
(Skotch these graphs by hand and show two full cycles,)
'l* ;' ] t't' (lt )
''

i{e

\,
I

'l a{i
I
te.,

-5

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

xmin * 0
xmax = 2rF 5
xscl = f;
ymin = -5
ymax:5
yscl = I I

-l {r Altr'

-5
4) Write an equation for your calculator graph in the form .r(r) = l{ cos[B(r - C)] , pse
the trace or maximum feature of your graphing utility to help you find values for A, B,
and C. I expeot to see desimal approximations for these values.)
N -. *"irl, '" j L 4 ,\
i\'' 3",1." rr-.' i1 -.r ri-r! :t i:\...i!,
ii^ t\ x (+t).. ;?, t, t",,,i- i{t, + ,l.i'"iil
.Il = ,1. fi6 ' t"-h- ii * J.li..t?rii : vt.i\

f .:"
* 1J
(ili
 5) How are the gtaphs from part 2) related to the graph in part 3)? Are the values for
period and amplitude the same or diflerent? Why do you think we see these results?
Please write out your explanation using complete sentences,

t: J ,',, Yir, tr.,,, ,i ir+l' 9,t',,'h''

t'' lr '1

ilril ,*i;'],,olrr, ;,' # I ''l'" 'irt- '/'1:, {':/ 'lld x uo'|"' ;a"'tt''}

9I,*
i)r,,.,,i t r,i,c...,,.',
f ,:.r*),,.,',,-,, ni,,..fii,u, t',',;. ,ii ,iu,.., "i,
'r,rr',

\nrr,*,.,, \u,',1
;,\'!z)*.,,').' i:.,.,,ri-l"lii,r, i,

Part III
6) Prove that the following is an identity (A is a positive constant) by filling in the blani<s
below,

lsin/ sin(arr) + ,,{ cos/ cos(art) = Acos(ot - 6)

A sin $ sn(a:t) + I cos / cos(af) I\r nr,.,r.

$ <r,. tar$ r. cl..,F cri{,-,i: ]Factor out A
=A Hrrfi trr(to$ +- ,,v.d] Commutatiys Iroperly of
n "r,r' {r,o'[\ Addition
: I [cos(a;r) cos / + sin(or) sin /] Commutative Property
Multlplication
of

= Acos(att *i) Dif;lerence identi ty for

cosine

Part III:
Rewrite an expression of the form

cl sin(alf)+ cos(arr) = lsin sin(ar)+ Aoos$ cos(af) in tenns of a cosine function:

Acos(ax * l) . Use the following definitions and your result from

')$'v' suo.0 Rr^'.^Aa,r"
ry
s
o cr = lsind:+

= Acasf=* cosf
sind = E- I
A

If
I tan/ =
ct

c2
/r
,l
q ?u0,...* 13ob-\{Ar&

@
il*u[rc*
Cz =
Al
ge rrgafi+e ,
a=Jq +4
l,is the amplitude of the cosine function ard d, "phi'1 is called the phase angle and is
measuled in radians. L.-
 Examplo: Write 4 sin 3r + 2 cos 3r ln terms of a cosine flrnction.

A c \6fa($" 4sin3t + ?.cos3tp &Gcos (* * \,\&

I A-- r{e
r t"nfl= *= L s aG",'F(+-o,{
/ =t"ri't (r) r \,\!-
[ ("4.;* "*d" ]
7) Rewrite ybur function from part 1) in terms of a cosine function: I cos(a;t - /) . Show
yowwork. , -c.s \
2r-*( "-t)i)rJ

|\ " d t'"'.)"' ,'a-' i t,,

Iyz
, ,liT .,,,'. {}'f t ":1t )
*")
.l** ll\ .?
frE *', e t{ t- ,etl'*J
{1, $'d'1r

8) Compare your function frorn pafl 4) and part 7), IVhat do you obseive? Write a ono or
two sentence explanation.

SG,,vru- ti<ir,.i}-t'r:^

'E*{ la;{ ott'''i ':"i{';tii1

'l' Tt- '"1 '/
-)J---'-ril^l,tl(' Gtt "" "1''u'i'47

'? ,j
r ;l{) {}ro,4 v--, fl'n,,,j
.^.l.t ,ii.it,
i ,\i ;: r,. ".
l" i,1 r'..
1.,' r... .:,1.1...
LJ.!' ':
I'!) l,
)'
''.r,.,
{il J, i,,{)'il,::i
'r.'j
ttlr: ,,/,i . v' I
i i
"'f