Question

An object attached to a coiled spring is pulled down a distance a from its rest position and then released. Assuming that the motion is simple harmonic with period T, write an equation that relates the displacement d of the object from its rest position after t seconds. Also assume that the positive direction of the motion is up.

a = 5;   T = 2 seconds

Answer 1

Step 1:

The amplitude .

The time period seconds.

An object that moves on a coordinate axis so that the distance from its rest position at time , then the function is .

The object starts at a vertical position, so .

The function of the form .

Solution:

The function of the form .