How Do Astronauts Measure Their Mass in Space?

[bobbarkernar]

Homework Statement

Astronauts in space cannot weigh themselves by standing on a bathroom scale. Instead, they determine their mass by oscillating on a large spring. Suppose an astronaut attaches one end of a large spring to her belt and the other end to a hook on the wall of the space capsule. A fellow astronaut then pulls her away from the wall and releases her. The spring's length as a function of time is shown in the figure.
http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1001073/9/knight_Figure_14_36.jpg

What is her speed when the spring's length is 1.2 ?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

i tried to write the position as x(t)= .6+1.4sin((2pi/T)t)

 

[berkeman]

The center of the sine wave is at 1.0m, not at 0.6m

Re-write the position equation with a number for T, then differentiate and figure out what phase to plug into the velocity equation. You're good to go!

 

[nrqed]

Homework Statement

Astronauts in space cannot weigh themselves by standing on a bathroom scale. Instead, they determine their mass by oscillating on a large spring. Suppose an astronaut attaches one end of a large spring to her belt and the other end to a hook on the wall of the space capsule. A fellow astronaut then pulls her away from the wall and releases her. The spring's length as a function of time is shown in the figure.
http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1001073/9/knight_Figure_14_36.jpg

What is her speed when the spring's length is 1.2 ?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

i tried to write the position as x(t)= .6+1.4sin((2pi/T)t)

Yes...Keep going. To find the speed you have to differentiate your equation, find the time corresponding to a position of 1.2 , plug that time in your equation for the velocity and get your answer. (you may read the period T from your figure)

Patrick

EDIT: I just noticed on the figure that the oscillation is from 0.6 to 1.4, so the equation should be 1+ 0.4 sin ({2 \pi \over T} t )

 

[bobbarkernar]

so i should differentiate 1+ 0.4 sin ({2 \pi \over T} t )
for t and Tshould be 3??

 

[berkeman]

so i should differentiate 1+ 0.4 sin ({2 \pi \over T} t )
for t and Tshould be 3??

Yep, that's the next step.