Simple Harmonic Motion Acceleration Calculation and Equations

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the acceleration of an object undergoing simple harmonic motion at a specific time, based on a provided graph. The original poster mentions having the answer but struggles with the calculations and the relevant equations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the formulation of the position function and the relevance of various equations for acceleration. There are questions about the correct use of amplitude and angular frequency in calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on deriving the position function and differentiating it to find acceleration. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the period and amplitude on the acceleration calculation, with differing interpretations of the results.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the period of the motion and the values of mass and spring constant, which are not provided. The original poster's assumptions about the amplitude and period are also under scrutiny.

Winegar12
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Homework Statement


I have been stuck on this question for quite some time. I'm trying to study for the test and actually have the answer, but I can't figure it out. The answer is 1.3X10-6cm/s2
The following graph represents an object oscillating in simple harmonic motion. What is the
acceleration of the object at t = 10.0 s?
You can find the graph here http://rwdacad01.slcc.edu/academics/dept/physics/tvanausdal/2210/exams/sampleexam5.pdf and scroll down to number 9.
I'm assuming that T=.5 and A=20cm

Homework Equations


These are the equations I've been trying to use

a=\omega2x=-(\frac{k}{m})x
a=-(\frac{2pi}{T})2(Xo)sin(\frac{2pi*t}{T})

The Attempt at a Solution


I have tried to plug in numbers and read somewhere that Xo is amplitude, but that didn't work either. I don't know mass, so I don't know how to use the first equation, and I don't know how to find k. Anyways, I hope someone can give me a few pointers on what I am doing wrong and if the equation I am using is wrong or what equation I should use.
 
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First write down the position function.

x(t)=x_{0}sin(\omega t)

We use sine since, at t=0, the position is zero. Then differentiate twice with respect to time to get the acceleration.

The first equation, involving k/m, is not relevant here.
 
So was I right to put the amplitude in for xo and then for \omega what would I use to plug in for that, is it 2pi/T?
 
It seems to me that the answer should be zero, unless there is some discrepancy and the period is not actually half of a second. If the period was half a second then the argument of the sine function would be

\omega t=\frac{2 \pi}{T}t=4 \pi t= 40 \pi

the sine of which is zero. Since the second derivative of the position function given in my above post will be proportional to the sine function, acceleration should be zero.
 

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