Help on Oscillation problem

1. Feb 9, 2007

irvine752

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

An air-track glider attached to a spring oscillates with a period of 1.50sec . At the glider is 4.60cm left of the equilibrium position and moving to the right at 33.4cm/s.
What is the phase constant , if the equation of the oscillator is taken to be ? Give an answer in the range -pi < Q < pi.

2. Relevant equations
phase constant = Q
Amplitude = A
angular frequency = w
x(t) = Acos(wt+Q)
v(t) = -Awsin(wt + Q)
w = (2pi)/period

3. The attempt at a solution
4.6 = Acos(Q)
33.4 = -Awsint(Q)

Q = atan(.334/(.046*(2pi/1.5))

2. Feb 10, 2007

irvine752

It appears that this is close to the right answer, but I'm missing some "additive constant". I probably posted this in the wrong section just by judging by the number of responses on this. If someone would kindly help me, I'd really appreciate it.

3. Feb 10, 2007

denverdoc

I think you might have missed a constant in your calculation there, but is there a way that you can figure out, t, at these instant where you're given x and v.

The term w*t seems to have disappeared, from the argument of both trig functions, not sure you can do this, or at least can't call it Q unless you're at t=0 or some integral number of cycles after that. In otherwords, you neet to solve for A and Q both if I'm not mistaken. You can get A from the approacch you were using once you know the angle. See it that leads anywhere

4. Feb 10, 2007

irvine752

The term w*t is no longer present b/c it was a function of time, and at the instance when t =0 or time = 0sec, w * t or (2pi/period) *t became 0. I then solved for A (Amplitude) from the first equation then substituted that into the second eqaution. If I'm not mistaken, isn't that the way to solve for two variables using two equations?

Last edited: Feb 10, 2007
5. Feb 10, 2007

SGT

The displacement is 4.6 cm and the velocity 33.4 cm/s at some time t different from 0. As denverdoc mentioned, you can write those equations but with a value different then Q and solve for A.
Once you know A, you can solve for Q.