Two ideal springs oscillating, find amplitude and phase difference between them

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two identical ideal springs with a mass attached, oscillating out of phase. The spring constant and mass are provided, along with specific displacements at a given time. The original poster seeks to determine the amplitude of oscillation and the phase difference between the two springs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate angular frequency and considers using position and energy equations to find amplitude, but notes the presence of unknowns. They question the role of the given time in relation to the phase difference.

Discussion Status

Some participants express concern about the adequacy of the provided information, particularly regarding the significance of the time variable and whether additional context is needed to solve for amplitude and phase difference. There is an exploration of interpretations regarding the notation used for time.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the potential ambiguity in the problem statement, particularly regarding the initial time reference and the implications of the given displacements at a specific time.

scrodger
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Hi, I am repeating first year exams and would really appreciate some help with my study. Just can't seem to get my head around this problem.

Homework Statement


Consider two identical ideal springs with a mass m attached which are harmonically oscillating out of phase relative to each other, with the spring constant k = 100 N/m and the mass m = 1x10-3 kg.
At the time t0 = +0.1 sec, the displacement of the spring 1 is x1(t0) = 10 mm and the displacement of spring 2 is x2(t0) = 1 mm.
(i) Calculate the value of the amplitude A of each oscillation.
(ii) Calculate the value of the phase-difference ∅ between the two oscillators.


Homework Equations


ω = \sqrt{k/m}
x = Acos(ωt + ∅)
kA2 = mv2 + kx2



The Attempt at a Solution


So I calculated ω = 316.228 rad/s. In order to find A, I can use either the position equation or the energy equation. But both of these have an unknown variable. I can't seem to figure out how to find one of these. In the case of the equation x = Acos(ωt + ∅), is ∅ included in this as I am given time with the symbol t0? Any help would really be appreciated. Also for part (ii) of the question, I have never solved a question before asking for the phase difference between two objects. Do you just subtract one from the other? Or is there a specific method?
Thanks :smile:
 
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are you sure that there is no extra piece of information? It seems a little odd that the question would give you displacements at time = 0.1sec without telling you something about time = 0.
 
Yep, I have posted the entire question. Does the subscript 0 on the t mean anything?
 
t0 usually means time zero or initial starting time.

so t0 = 0.1sec or t0 = +0.1sec are both a little odd.

I can't see a way of providing values for A and phi without more information
 

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