Urgent HW Help needed! (Trig Graph)

[Ice]

(1 pt) A mass is oscillating on the end of a spring. The distance, y , of the mass from its equilibrium point is given by the formula


y=5zcos(6wt)
where y is in centimeters, t is time in seconds, and z and w are positive constants.

How many oscillations are completed in 1 second?

If anyone can help me it would be appreciated. I can't get this problem and its due at 11 pm est (3:45) !

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Well, the maximum distance from the equilibrium point is 5z since cos(anything) can't be greater than 1. 1 oscillation would equal 4 times that, or 20z.

at t=0 the mass is at it's farthest from the spring. Not sure how to finish it.

[Ice]

Thanks for the help sk. Anyone else? Er I only have an hour left.

[Ice]

Nevermind figured it out. All i had to do was take the inverse of the period (frequency). Thanks though, sk.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

You're so silly...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

np. That kind of question was what made me decide physics wasn't for me

I like my problems to be more tangible.

[Red Peasant]

np. That kind of question was what made me decide physics wasn't for me

I like my problems to be more tangible.

Amen to that.

[Beirut]

Well, the maximum distance from the equilibrium point is 5z since cos(anything) can't be greater than 1. 1 oscillation would equal 4 times that, or 20z.

at t=0 the mass is at it's farthest from the spring. Not sure how to finish it.

Finish it? Good Lord, I wouldn't know how to begin it.

This... hurts... less...

[Somebody Else]

A bit late, but as a matter of interest, surely the thing to do is differentiate the equation, and then substitute the relevent numbers in in order to find how many inversions occur. Which would then be twice the number of oscillations (one oscillation being two inversions of course).

*Long time since I did any maths, so I may well be fishing this out of where the sun don't shine...*

[Duke of Gloucester]

Nope. General equation for shm is x = A cos (wt) and w = 2 pi f, where f is the frequency.

Therefore f = w/2 pi and T = 2 pi / w (T is the period)

The number of oscillations in 1 sec is the frequency, f. In this case they have used 6w as the constant which is a bit confusing.

f = 6w/2 pi = 3w/pi

pm me next time you need help with physics, ice and I will see what I can do. (Though I would prefer my students to pay attention in class, rather than seek help on the internet. Having said that internet help is better than not completing the assignment)

[Ice]

Nope. General equation for shm is x = A cos (wt) and w = 2 pi f, where f is the frequency.

Therefore f = w/2 pi and T = 2 pi / w (T is the period)

The number of oscillations in 1 sec is the frequency, f. In this case they have used 6w as the constant which is a bit confusing.

f = 6w/2 pi = 3w/pi

pm me next time you need help with physics, ice and I will see what I can do. (Though I would prefer my students to pay attention in class, rather than seek help on the internet. Having said that internet help is better than not completing the assignment)

We didn't learn this in class. This review for a Calc I course. I took physics last year and couldn't remember.

[Duke of Gloucester]

We didn't learn this in class. This review for a Calc I course. I took physics last year and couldn't remember.

Sorry Ice. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. The offer still stands.

[Ice]

Sorry Ice. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. The offer still stands.

Thank you very much. I won't hesitate to ask.