D* F,lton

Modelingthe 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 'ostiffness" 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(r) = bsin(at)+xo cos(a/)

where x(/) 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 stiffrress 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

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. @lease note that the
vertical number line used forposition is "upside down". This is a convention from
physics and it means that positions below equilibrium actually correspond to a positive
value.) Assune that the spring stiffiress and mass of the weight mean that o = 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.)

x0-7 S,n|t)t r ftsOA

2) Graph the separate sine and oosine components of your fi.rnction from (1)on the same
set of ores. That is

gaph x, = bsin(arf) and x, = t0 cos(@r) on the set of ores below.

'o)

(Sketch these graphs by hand and show two

X,

full cycles.)

=7 5,n00

Xz:\hsO+.)

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

calculator display.

xmin=

xmax=2fi s
xscl = f,
ymin = -5
lnna:r = 5

yscl=

Y* )s,nlt)fi tu:Qa

-r

4) Write an equation for your calculator gaph in the form x(r) = AcoslB(t - C)1. (Use
the trace or marimum featue of yoru graphhg utility to help you find values for A, B,
and C. I expeot to see decimai approximations for these values.)

&)

- \,6 cos6.l E -r

rfl)

5) How are the graphs from part 2) related to 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.

grapir, fn,* l^r4 t,w go qn/ a,,npl,t tog rlht ]o c rea{e

lhe |.eriol
lraph
frnplilv(e are r drrni {or b,lh qrqt)hr,
^nl
t
T h;l iS becau la th< ttuo Jr^{hs bmb;nd n,1e n hg3e, SraphY

lhe

Part

II:

6) Prove that the following is an identity (A is a positive constant) by fitling in the blanks
below.

A sin { sn(at) +

cos Q cos(arr) = A,cos(ott

A sin S slrl,r(at) +

cos

- 0)

/ cos(ax) = A (i,n 0 r,inf',1il!+ AItr,si ro*,ni

:
:

(s,,r0 5;,1LJ* a ros 0 rosr'*.n

Afcos(ott)

= Acos(ail

Part

cos/+ sin(ar) sin/]

Factor out

Commutative Property

of

Addition
Commutative Property

of

Multiolication
Difference identity for

-0)

cosine

III:

Rewrite an expression of the form

\y-

sin(ar) +

Acos(att

cos(arr) =

S) . Use the

Effi-/J

sin(arr)

,a

,os lJ.os(arr) in terms of a cosine tunction:

following definitions and your result from part II:

c1

= Asin1+ sin/ =',

AtI
= Acos|="r"0=j)

@nS

=9c2

su G.0 Ql^'*^Ae,r"
I\r
:"*,'*j'
V,
vralrr^
{v
pots,$Adr

{t q

?tro,3r

i;*uqr*
nsuht*

is the amplitude of the cosine function and O,'ophi", is called the phase angle and is
measured in radians.

24,

Example: Writ 4$n3t +2cos3r in terms of a cosine function.

ft .

(i[Jffi"

A:x.tE
a.
t"n / = Lo t
/ =t"".1t (L) x, \.tL

1si",3t + Xcos3t6, &Gco: (s+ - \,\d

saF"r+G-o.{

! n"a.*' -4" )

.t'

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

fixrction: Acos(at

your work.

-/).

Show

- z s)nt) + 3 tos Qt1 -;fi ,"(,,,t -fl)

Jz,+f fr -- tnn '[i)
0, 5 sg
\""

X@l
A

-_

4 _,lG

8) Compare yor:r function from part4) and part 7). What do you observe? Write a one or
two sentence e4planation.

ohrrue

forr*,

*hrt

both funct,Inl lororr, p,rt tl anl

(art* are,'n ttre tumc