Oscillating Ball on a Spring: Analyzing Motion

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a ball oscillating on a spring, focusing on concepts of simple harmonic motion (SHM). Participants are exploring various aspects of the motion, including amplitude, maximum acceleration, and the ball's position at maximum acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to use equations related to SHM, such as those for position and velocity, but expresses confusion about how to apply them to find specific values. Some participants suggest using trigonometric identities to eliminate sine and cosine terms from the equations to simplify the problem.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering hints and guidance on how to manipulate the equations. There is a recognition of the need to substitute known values into the equations to progress further. However, the original poster expresses uncertainty about their understanding of the concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of missing information, such as the phase constant, and assumptions about the initial conditions of the system are being discussed. The original poster's self-identified struggle with the material suggests a learning context where foundational concepts may need reinforcement.

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A .1 kg ball oscillates horizontally on a spring on a frictionless Table. k is 2.5 N/m. Its velocity is .2m/s when x= -.05 m What is :

a. The Amplitude
b. The Max Acceleration
c. What is the balls position when [tex]a = a_{max}[/tex]

This one I know. Here x=the amplitude because a will be greatest when the spring is at its extremes.

d. What is the speed of the ball at x = .03m

So I know: [tex]\omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} = 5 rad/sec[/tex]

[tex]T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}} = 2/5\pi[/tex]

[tex]x=A\cos (\omega t + \phi_0)[/tex]

[tex]v_x = -\omega A\sin (\omega t + \phi_0)[/tex]

So:

[tex]x=A \cos (\frac{2\pi t}{T} +\phi_0)[/tex]

I'm lost at how to use this info to solve the problem. Any hints?
 
Last edited:
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At certain time 't' velocity and position are given. Use this on the following to get 2 equations that you can solve. [tex]x=A\cos (\omega t + \phi_0)[/tex]

[tex]v_x = -\omega A\sin (\omega t + \phi_0)[/tex]

Use the fact that

[itex]sin^2 \theta + cos^2 \theta = 1[/itex]Accelaration can be found by differentiating [itex]v_x[/itex] with respect to 't' and then proceed to find [itex]a_{max}[/itex] from there.
 
Last edited:
OK I've tried adding the two equations together and I get:

[tex]x+v_x=A\cos(\omega t + \phi_0) - \omega A\sin (\omega t +\phi_0)[/tex]

I still don't see where to go from here. Sorry, I'm trying to teach SHM to myself and i guess i didn't do as great of a job as I thought. :)
 
That is not what I said. Look at the following trig expression.

[itex]sin^2 \theta + cos^2 \theta = 1[/itex]

I said use the above fact to some how get rid of sin and cosine from both of your equations

So you need to first plug in the given values for x and vx. At time t, x = -0.5 m and vx = 0.2 m/s. After you plug in these values, do the following to eliminate the trig parts from your equations. See what you get . You should be able to find the Amphlitude.

[itex](\frac{x}{A}) ^2 + (\frac{v_x}{-wA}) ^2 = ?[/itex]
 
Ok I got the answer. Thank you very much.
 

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