Recent content by BAC5.2

You could, I imagine. Calculate the fractional drop in GPE and then extrapolate it to t=14400. And since potential energy is proportional to the square of the amplitude, you could find the amplitude at a given point. It sounds a bit more difficult, but I bet you'd arrive at the same...

Yep, that's exactly what I did.

A_{0} is illustrated (verbally) in the problem to be 1.5 meters horizontal. Since the answer requires units of the meter, one can assume they are used throughout. In this case, it is, and A_{0} is the initial amplitude. Again, if you were to evaluate this graphically, you'd use 1.5 for A_{0}...

Ahh, that's where it's tricky. The problems on Mastering Physics give you a little hint. They tell you the units of the answer, in this case Meters. It's just a matter of evaluating the DSHM equation at t=14400 seconds for the first half of the equation.

Thank you! All solved.

That makes sense. I wonder why none of my textbooks make any mention of the period equation... not for damped motion, anyway. At any rate, I found a different way to look at the breakdown of the problem. I've got a little experience in Diff-Eq, but I like looking at things in more managable...

Well, how much of the equation do you understand? Do you understand what each part tells you? What physics class are you taking?

I posted this same question in Advanced Physics. I'm stuck on the number of oscillations. I did what I thought was right, but MP doesn't accept it as an answer. The second part is straight forward though, if you understand the equation.

Homework Statement Given: "In a science museum, a 110 kg brass pendulum bob swings at the end of a 15.0-m-long wire. The pendulum is started at exactly 8:00 a.m. every morning by pulling it 1.5 m to the side and releasing it. Because of its compact shape and smooth surface, the pendulum's...