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(t1 =bsin(a/) + xo cos(arf)

a)

where x(r) 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 stiffiress 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 weight on a spring:

Suppose a weight is set in motion from a position 3 centimeters beiow the equilibrium
position and with a downward velocity of 4 centimeters per second. @lease 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 stiffiress and mass of the weight mean that ar = 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.)
/ il
!,r +( ti \
* { *{:.r2-t \
JJ*),
rl --*
i-\',-- .;
.t

Ar* ',' \"/

lt| I t".\* ..l
t - Ilr '
 2) Graph the separate sine and cosine components of your function from (1) on the same

set of axes. That is graph x, = bsin(ar) and x, = x0 cos(ar) on the set of axes below.
a)
(Sketch these graphs by hand and show two full cycles.)

{,="i;{ir1' ti|j*_L"r.+'

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

xmin:0
xmax:2n
xscl: f,
ymin = -!
yrnax: 5
yscl = I

4) Write an equation for your calculator graph in the fonn x(r) = I cos[B(/ - 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.)

A* ?;"|+,';i.r
 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.

tho <yn\Ph( 4roy4*$ t\c. 1 rr"\[iki

\* e tauS<,
#,':a3*Y,Y-wYz'
rul ,rdxJ".L,,r r& fl,rr, Arv)^r of r"lt q{a*\ frf b6trl-Z
-[\e
fo,d $ {h& #vr}r, $nv's[\-qffif4fl6,
Tho &v*pi,Yrnde,, \yl ffi#'& \$' tk:asa*vt':#kryYe ryofrhs
1rr tr;mv-"i g.

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

Asin Q slar(at) + A cos $ cos(arr) = A cos(ott - d)

Asn { sin{nt) + A cos $ cos(ax) % an {&}1n(trrt) t f.o{O Yns0of,l' Factor outA

Commut*ive Property of
n( mr { *) s{ur{:\E l nfOh y(n*
cu Addition
: Afcos(att) cos d + sin(a/) sin /] Commutetive Property
Multiolication
of

: Acos(at -0) Difference identity for

cosine

Part III:
Rewrite an expression of the fonn
.CI

Qsin(ar) + Qcos(ar) = Ffr-ilsi n1rot1+Vcos1cos(a/) in temrs of a cosine tunction:

o :Astnd=sin/:i
I rrn|=L
c2
@ = Acos;,= cos/ =ZI

Fffi ee
ee *5oh*
l,is the amplitude of the cosine f,rnction arrd d,'?H", is called the phase qngle and is
measured in radians-
 Example: Write 4stn3t +Zcos3r in terms of a cosine function.

t
/
T

t
1
{.on
p
A:
=fiffir\"

*= }'
/'
=t","' (r-) L \.\L
a".ta
4sin3t + ?.cos3tp[&Gcos (ut - \,\[)
s a{E"r.frG-o,{

! Roa-;* "*dt )
7) Rervrite ybur firnction from part l) in terms of a cosine fi:nction: Acos{at -S). Show
your work.
AUo) -?.stn Afu) + & {o:} t;e,)
\A 4= {13* lt-a)=-
rt{ &--l[]? $1*""-{ -1
"
-b

"3
= lJA egrgfueb =nt$
Lqn6-=2
0= Vfin lZ) *
n - I - -l 1-2 1-,- r_--.i7
"51-6

8) Compme your function from part 4) and part 7), What do you observe? Write a one or
two sentence explanation.

{h.j &{, (arne,

"4f(*1un
-
^vL tT*lo
{h{, g*uufifion% s4}'r, {t.fr,rift *& -{We,,
e q#0hu n rh Parl 0Y\'
ePortfolio Posting:

All Math 1060 students must llost a copy of the ma*s-spring project in their General
klucation eportrolio. The completed project should be scanned to apdf file and posted in
that form. The eportrolio must be linked to MyPage. Students must
also include some reflective writing about the project in the ePortfolio. The reflective
,vriting should include a response to the following :

Give some examples ofmass-spring systems irnportant in everyday life.

Describe why it would be important to understand the amplitude, period and
frequency of these systems. Did this project change the way you think about
how tigonomefry can be applied to the real world? State what ideas
changed andwhy. If this project didnot change the way you thinlq write
how this project gave furttrer evidence to support your existing opinion
about applyng trigonomefiry. Be specific.

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*\uq,k * ty'i {a Ve\"rrr,\fl sfid ffiffi+tresses.
Itts lrvrF*rtftrj& {m utvrder'S}a'fr f*t*,{r f *ar*--
t* p\ilrvw\e, t1 -.<1.,iri6f"pi , rdo, {fl Tt-lid }il$ht*
{ksr, ,T had trlsfe{ rnr\qfrned tro &ru}ildnf
et rli*t{h r+ r,qirLr,\dl -r etl.o t'a }AA,\4 ft $i1q{fftsE,
J*t ff** ?\1*' rtil**.) f'e*Ef*h#{, .}v'1

\i rqohtr,'r {tiy ,