Noah (Tyler) Roberts

Modeling the Motion of a spring

If we neglect any damping forces (air resistance etc.) then the motion of a spring
can be modeled by () = ()+ ()
I will be modeling the motion of a spring where () is the position of the object along
the number line at time . The other quantities are constants: is a constant that
depends on the stiffness of the spring and the mass of the weight, 0 is the initial
velocity, and 0 is the initial position of the object.
For this project a weight is set in motion from a position 2 centimeters below the
equilibrium position and with a downward velocity of 24 centimeters per second.
The constant for the spring stiffness and mass of the weight is = 3 for this
system.
For the first part of this project (graphing from an equation) I graphed the both the
sine and cosine waves separately from the equation. I then stated what I saw in the
graphs and then graphed them together as one complete function. Finally I gave a
complete equation for that graph and worked it out to four decimal places for
accuracy.
For the second part of this project (triangles) I gave different equations for how to
solve for cosine, sine, tangent, and the angle theta. I then solved a few problems
and gave examples of the equations working in real life. I also made a few pictures
of the solved triangles after I solved the equations for the separate angles and
sides.
For the third part of this project (identity verification) I gave two separate equations
(identities) that were equal to each other and I solved and gave separate steps for
what I was doing. In the end I proved that they were both the same by pulling
variables out, switching variables, and reducing the different identities to their other
forms.
For the fourth part of this project (rewriting equations in different forms) I reduced a
long problem into a smaller and simple looking problem. I then came to the
conclusion that the equation I came up with created the exact same graph that the
first equation in this project created.
For the fifth part of this project (reflection) I basically just wrote what I observed how
I came to that conclusion. I also included two real life examples of what you could
use sine and cosine waves for. I also stated what I learned from this project and how
I can apply it to my daily life.

Noah (Tyler) Roberts

Graphing From an Equation

Here is the function that gives the position of a weight as a function of
time in seconds.

X o =2 cm
w=3

vo =

24 cm
sec

x ( t )=8 sin ( 3 t )+2cos ( 3 t )

Here are the separate sine and cosine functions graphed together

What I see in the graphs

Noah (Tyler) Roberts

Sine:
Amplitude: 8

Cosine:
Amplitude: 2

Period:

Period:

2
3

Frequency:

3
2

2
3

Frequency:

Phase Shift: 0

3
2

Phase Shift: 0

The periods and frequencies are the same.

Here is the graphed function from the beginning
(0.4419,
8.2462)

(-0.0817,
0)

(2.0944,

0)

(1.4891,
-8.2462)

Here is an equation for the graph

A=8.2462 ( Amplitude ) : ( .44 19 , 8.2462 )

B=2.0944 ( Period ) : ( 0,2.0944 ) B :

2
2.0944

C=0.0817 ( phase shift ) : (0.0817,0 )

x ( t )=8.2462 cos [ 3.0000 ( t+ 0.0817 ) ]
The periods of both of the graphs are the same. The second one has a slight phase
shift, and the first one doesnt. The second graph is the result of the previous two

Noah (Tyler) Roberts

added together. The amplitude on the second one is slightly larger than the first
one. I got B by dividing 2
(-0.817,
8.2462)

by the period (2.0944)

(2.0127,

8.2462)

(0.9655, -8.2462)

Triangles
It is always possible to draw a right triangle with legs having two measurements
because there are only two lines and they can make a 90 degree angle together

C21 +C 22= A2
A= C 21+ C22

C1
sin ( )=

C1
C
A 1

cos ( )=

C2
A

C2

tan ( )=

C1
C2

C1 = A 2C22
C2 = A 2C21

Noah (Tyler) Roberts

=tan1

C1
C2

7
=tan1 =33 = 1.1659 radians

A= 58

=tan 4

A= 60
2

Identity Verification
Here I am verifying that the identity

Asin sin ( t ) + Acos cos ( t )= Acos(t )

true. I will also give a justification for each step

Asin sin ( t ) + Acos cos ( t )= Acos(t )

Factor out the A

( t )
(
sin sin t ) +cos cos

A
Put into sum and difference formula

( t )
cos cos ( t ) +sin sin

A
Switch to sum and difference formula equivalent

Acos (t)

Rewriting equations in different forms

is

Noah (Tyler) Roberts

2 17 sin ( arctan ( 4 ) ) sin ( 3 t )+ 2 17 cos ( arctan ( 4 ) ) cos ( 3 t )

2 17 cos ( 3tarctan ( 4 ) )
arctan ( 4 )
3
)
3
2 17 cos

I observed that both the first equation and this equation create the same
graph.

Reflection
Two possible applications of harmonic motion and/or damped harmonic
motion are an oscillating pendulum and a tuning fork. It is important to understand amplitude,
period, and frequency in these applications so that you know where the pendulum will move and what
tune a tuning fork will be. This project changed the way that I think how trigonometry can be applied in the
world by showing me how I can solve for the motion of a spring. I knew before that trigonometry applied to
real world objects but I didnt think that it depended on it so much. This course will help me in the future
with financial and physics classes because the math is useful in those applications.