Modeling the Motion of a Spring

Consider a weight attached to a spring

that is suspended from ahorizontal bar
as illustated in the fig,re. When the
object comes to rest we say it is at
"equilibrium" whioh is labeled 0 onthe
vertical nunber line. If you give the
weight apuslL either up or down, it will
start to move and the motion can be
modeled by sine and oosine functions.
The "stiffness" of the spring and the
mass of the object affect how far the
object moves &om the equilibrium
position. The iaitial 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(arr) + xo cos(or)

c0

where x(/) is the position of the object along the number line at fime t. The other
quantities are constants: ar is a constant that depends on tle stiffiress of the spring and
the mass of the weight, vois the initial velocity, and xois the initial position of the object.

Model the motion of a weight on a spring:

Suppose a weight is set in motion from aposition 3 centimeters belowthe equilibrium

position and with a downward velocity of 4 centimeters per second. (Please note that the
vertical number line used for position is'lrpside down'. This is a convention tom
physics aad it means that positioas below equilibrium actually correspond to a positive
value.) Aszume that the spnng stiffrress and mass of the weight mean that o * 2 for this
system.

Pnrt t
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,Tf sine term and a cosine terrn.)

{+S='4s;ivCLDt 3{T'tG
2) Graph the separate sine and cosine components of your function from (1) onthe same
set of axes. That is graph x, =.hsin1a#) and xz = xacos(af) on the set of ores below.
a)
(Sketch these graphs by hand and show two full cycles.)

/n ;;';c"fi 36;* -rr''*G*)

5
^

e4r

3) Use a graphing calculator (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 = 2lt
xscl: f
ymin: -5
ymax:5
yscl: 1

4) Write an equation for your calculator graph in the t'orm x(r) = lcos[B(r*C)]. (Use
the hace or maximurn feature of your graphing utility to help you find values for A, B,
and C. I expect to see decimal approximatioas for these values.)

XG) > 3. Co€ wf,ffi7cn o.'t I il

 5) How are the graphs from part 2) related to the graph in part 3X Are the values for
period and amplitude the same or different? Why do you think we see these results?
Please write out vour exolanation usins complete sentences. .! \a ; \ ./
at'r* L *"rid' pi'rf-'
T?'e'k''"^c'
if"'A tt"- f% #:7tr:;*;
ie
fr , g nyl,tff*' d-? h $6vY fr."
i;S ii-l,a'/ P'Yr+'a"
$;N-;"iir-n ;Y "l:o un**'k#;r9.''"*s c'{p'91I i'

Part II:
6) Prove that the following is an identity (A is a positive constant) by filling in the blanks
below.

I sin / sin( att) + Acos Q cos(rot) = Acos(ail - d)

,4 sin / sin( at) + Acos / cos(arr) : Akirq6;il0/t*)+G4z@ Factor out A

=ffi Commutative Properfy of
;,&.*' lP ?e*6t/*Xrq @ Addition
:= Alcos(att) eos / + sin(arr) sin /] Commutative Property of
Multiplication
: Acos(att * 0) Differonce identity for
cogine

Part III:
Rewrite an expression of the form
*
fiJsin(ar)+[Jcos(ar) =lFnZ snfuit)+Fr"sdlros(or) interms of a cosine function:

Acas(att -d). Use the following 4elinitions and your result from part II: n ta

o ct=Asin|=+sin/=1

cz= Acos|+"r"0= j)
1 tanQ
,c,
='tc2
lvti{#s:ffi
{P)
o-/ cl
@
ee
il*uurc*
r,soh*
l,is the arnplitude of the cosine function a d O, o'phi", is oalled the phase angle and is
measured in radians.
 Example: Write 4sin3r+ Zcos3t in terms of a cosine function.

il
&
1 A: f,.lE
ft =

ton / = *' L
/ =t"",1 (.) L \,\L
S6*-tty 4sin3t + e.cos3tp &Gcos (u* *

s e{6.r'fr(+*o,ri1
\,\i

t
t Rod*G-^ *"d" )
7) Rewrite ybur functio.n
functio,n.f1o1q part 1)
from parl 1) i4 tegms of a cosine function: Aco!\att
t+ lgqns Acos(at -/)
- /) . Show
tX
. z+,\r3((+(t+)
yo* *o.k. r ) )yir,"(
L\+ryr, :Y Y#.
z 0"662-@*
(,r,a. : 14

3,4M8'r,@}*{*',{rA' +r,gH
+"n (eC{EZ)t l.;
3,6c6L%@+- i'A

8) Compare your function from part 4) and part7). What do you observe? Write a one or
two sentence explanation.
'T*
+*;' {r*'t wa 6yh* y ftg,sr**4 W o*f ilf'd€-
c*#- s ,'t , ,' I ;o-r

fi*tst si,f;t,Vfrr* Z ;S lJ st-fr,** -/

rwifi"",uc{ H.ureanf rry
ft*6t/t*;,r, pif