MHB Mechanical Vibrations - Linear Combinations

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on transforming the expression \(u(t) = 4\cos(3t) - 2\sin(3t)\) into the form \(u = R\cos(\omega_0 t - \delta)\). The values determined are \(\omega_0 = 3\), \(R = 2\sqrt{5}\), and \(\delta = -\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\). Participants confirm the correctness of the calculations and emphasize the importance of using exact values rather than decimal approximations for the phase shift.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of trigonometric identities and transformations
  • Familiarity with the concepts of angular frequency and phase shift
  • Knowledge of inverse trigonometric functions
  • Basic skills in solving linear combinations of sine and cosine functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the angle-difference identity for cosine in detail
  • Learn about the derivation and application of the phase shift in harmonic motion
  • Explore the use of inverse tangent functions in trigonometric transformations
  • Practice converting between different forms of trigonometric expressions
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics and engineering, particularly those studying mechanical vibrations and harmonic motion, will benefit from this discussion.

alane1994
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The title may be incorrect, I named this after the section of my book in which this is located.

My problem is as follows.

Determine \(\omega_0\), R, and \(\delta\) so as to write the given expression in the form
\(u=R\cos(\omega_0 t-\delta)\)

\(\color{blue}{u=4\cos(3t)-2\sin(3t)},~\text{My Problem}\)

I know that,

\(u(t)=A\cos(\omega_0 t)+B\sin(\omega_0 t)\)\(\omega_0=\sqrt{\dfrac{k}{m}}\)

\(A=R\cos(\delta),~~B=R\sin(\delta)~~\Rightarrow~R=\sqrt{A^2+B^2},~\tan(\delta)=\dfrac{B}{A}\)

So that means that,
\(\omega_0=3\)

\(A=4\)

\(B=-2\)

\(R=2\sqrt{5}\)

\(\delta=\tan^{-1}(\dfrac{-2}{4})\approx-.463648\)

Now I am a little confused as to where to go from here. Any thoughts?ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
Would I then just plug in the values into the desired format above?
 
Last edited:
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alane1994 said:
The title may be incorrect, I named this after the section of my book in which this is located.

My problem is as follows.

Determine \(\omega_0\), R, and \(\delta\) so as to write the given expression in the form
\(u=R\cos(\omega_0 t-\delta)\)

\(\color{blue}{u=4\cos(3t)-2\sin(3t)},~\text{My Problem}\)

I know that,

\(u(t)=A\cos(\omega_0 t)+B\sin(\omega_0 t)\)\(\omega_0=\sqrt{\dfrac{k}{m}}\)

\(A=R\cos(\delta),~~B=R\sin(\delta)~~\Rightarrow~R=\sqrt{A^2+B^2},~\tan(\delta)=\dfrac{B}{A}\)

So that means that,
\(\omega_0=3\)

\(A=4\)

\(B=-2\)

\(R=2\sqrt{5}\)

\(\delta=\tan^{-1}(\dfrac{-2}{4})\approx-.463648\)

Now I am a little confused as to where to go from here. Any thoughts?ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
Would I then just plug in the values into the desired format above?
Looks good. One note: When I graphed these (easiest way to check) I needed several more digits for the phase shift to make it work right.

-Dan
 
Is the phase shift the \(\delta\)?
 
I have moved this topic to our Trigonometry sub-forum since the problem, while it comes from an application of a second order linear ODE, involves only trigonometry. I have also edited the title.

We want to express the solution:

$$u(t)=4\cos(3t)-2\sin(3t)$$

in the form:

$$u(t)=R\cos(\omega_0 t-\delta)$$

I would use the angle-difference identity for cosine to write:

$$u(t)=R\left(\cos(\omega_0 t)\cos(\delta)+\sin(\omega_0 t)\sin(\delta) \right)$$

Distributing the $R$, we have:

$$u(t)=R\cos(\omega_0 t)\cos(\delta)+R\sin(\omega_0 t)\sin(\delta)$$

Comparison of this with the desired form, we find:

$$R\cos(\delta)=4$$

$$R\sin(\delta)=-2$$

$$\omega_0=3$$

Squaring the first two equations, and adding, we get:

$$R^2=20\implies\,R=2\sqrt{5}$$

Dividing the second equation by the first, we find:

$$\tan(\delta)=-\frac{1}{2}\implies\delta=-\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2} \right)$$

and so we may state:

$$u(t)=2\sqrt{5}\cos\left(3t+\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2} \right) \right)$$
 
Ok, so you do just plug them back into the friendly equation from earlier in the problem!
I need to stop over-thinking things, it just seemed too easy for a course of this level :P
 
alane1994 said:
Ok, so you do just plug them back into the friendly equation from earlier in the problem!
I need to stop over-thinking things, it just seemed too easy for a course of this level :P

Yes, you did everything correctly, the only thing I would have done further is reduce the argument of the inverse tangent function and avoided using a decimal approximation for the resulting angle $\delta$.

Technically, I should have written:

$$ u(t)=2\sqrt{5}\cos\left(3t-\left(-\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2} \right) \right) \right)$$
 
alane1994 said:
Is the phase shift the \(\delta\)?
Yup!

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
Yup!

-Dan

I believe the phase shift would actually be:

$$\frac{\delta}{\omega_0}$$

which can be seen by writing the solution in the form:

$$u(t)=R\cos\left(\omega_0\left(t-\frac{\delta}{\omega_0} \right) \right)$$
 
MarkFL said:
I believe the phase shift would actually be:

$$\frac{\delta}{\omega_0}$$

which can be seen by writing the solution in the form:

$$u(t)=R\cos\left(\omega_0\left(t-\frac{\delta}{\omega_0} \right) \right)$$
(Ahem!) That's one on MHF and now one on MHB. I'm going to bed.

Thanks for the catch.

-Dan
 

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