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Describing periodic motion

The hour hand of the large clock on the wall in Union Station measures 24 inches in length. At noon, the tip of the hour hand is 30 inches from the ceiling. At 3 PM, the tip is 54 inches from the ceiling, and at 6 PM, 78 inches. At 9 PM, it is again 54 inches from the ceiling, and at midnight, the tip of the hour hand returns to its original position 30 inches from the ceiling. Let y equal the distance from the tip of the hour hand to the ceiling x hours after noon. Find the equation that models the motion of the clock and sketch the graph.

Begin by making a table of values as shown in [link] .

x y Points to plot
Noon 30 in ( 0 , 30 )
3 PM 54 in ( 3 , 54 )
6 PM 78 in ( 6 , 78 )
9 PM 54 in ( 9 , 54 )
Midnight 30 in ( 12 , 30 )

To model an equation, we first need to find the amplitude.

| A | = | 78 30 2 |      = 24

The clock’s cycle repeats every 12 hours. Thus,

B = 2 π 12     = π 6

The vertical shift is

D = 78 + 30 2     = 54

There is no horizontal shift, so C = 0. Since the function begins with the minimum value of y when x = 0 (as opposed to the maximum value), we will use the cosine function with the negative value for A . In the form y = A cos ( B x ± C ) + D , the equation is

y = −24 cos ( π 6 x ) + 54

See [link] .

Graph of the function y=-24cos(pi/6 x)+54 using the five key points: (0,30), (3,54), (6,78), (9,54), (12,30).
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Determining a model for tides

The height of the tide in a small beach town is measured along a seawall. Water levels oscillate between 7 feet at low tide and 15 feet at high tide. On a particular day, low tide occurred at 6 AM and high tide occurred at noon. Approximately every 12 hours, the cycle repeats. Find an equation to model the water levels.

As the water level varies from 7 ft to 15 ft, we can calculate the amplitude as

| A | = | ( 15 7 ) 2 |      = 4

The cycle repeats every 12 hours; therefore, B is

2 π 12 = π 6

There is a vertical translation of ( 15 + 8 ) 2 = 11.5. Since the value of the function is at a maximum at t = 0 , we will use the cosine function, with the positive value for A .

y = 4 cos ( π 6 ) t + 11

See [link] .

Graph of the function y=4cos(pi/6 t) + 11 from 0 to 12. The midline is y=11, three key points are (0,15), (6,7), and (12, 15).
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The daily temperature in the month of March in a certain city varies from a low of 24 °F to a high of 40 °F . Find a sinusoidal function to model daily temperature and sketch the graph. Approximate the time when the temperature reaches the freezing point 32 °F . Let t = 0 correspond to noon.

y = 8 sin ( π 12 t ) + 32
The temperature reaches freezing at noon and at midnight.

Graph of the function y=8sin(pi/12 t) + 32 for temperature. The midline is at 32. The times when the temperature is at 32 are midnight and noon.
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Interpreting the periodic behavior equation

The average person’s blood pressure is modeled by the function f ( t ) = 20 sin ( 160 π t ) + 100 , where f ( t ) represents the blood pressure at time t , measured in minutes. Interpret the function in terms of period and frequency. Sketch the graph and find the blood pressure reading.

The period is given by

2 π ω = 2 π 160 π       = 1 80

In a blood pressure function, frequency represents the number of heart beats per minute. Frequency is the reciprocal of period and is given by

ω 2 π = 160 π 2 π = 80

See the graph in [link] .

Graph of the function f(t) = 20sin(160 * pi * t) + 100 for blood pressure. The midline is at 100.
The blood pressure reading on the graph is 120 80   ( maximum minimum ) .
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Modeling harmonic motion functions

Harmonic motion is a form of periodic motion, but there are factors to consider that differentiate the two types. While general periodic motion applications cycle through their periods with no outside interference, harmonic motion requires a restoring force. Examples of harmonic motion include springs, gravitational force, and magnetic force.

Questions & Answers

A golfer on a fairway is 70 m away from the green, which sits below the level of the fairway by 20 m. If the golfer hits the ball at an angle of 40° with an initial speed of 20 m/s, how close to the green does she come?
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Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter,it composition,it structure and the changes it undergoes
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2. A sled plus passenger with total mass 50 kg is pulled 20 m across the snow (0.20) at constant velocity by a force directed 25° above the horizontal. Calculate (a) the work of the applied force, (b) the work of friction, and (c) the total work.
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you have been hired as an espert witness in a court case involving an automobile accident. the accident involved car A of mass 1500kg which crashed into stationary car B of mass 1100kg. the driver of car A applied his brakes 15 m before he skidded and crashed into car B. after the collision, car A s
Samuel Reply
can someone explain to me, an ignorant high school student, why the trend of the graph doesn't follow the fact that the higher frequency a sound wave is, the more power it is, hence, making me think the phons output would follow this general trend?
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Nevermind i just realied that the graph is the phons output for a person with normal hearing and not just the phons output of the sound waves power, I should read the entire thing next time
Joseph
Follow up question, does anyone know where I can find a graph that accuretly depicts the actual relative "power" output of sound over its frequency instead of just humans hearing
Joseph
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A string is 3.00 m long with a mass of 5.00 g. The string is held taut with a tension of 500.00 N applied to the string. A pulse is sent down the string. How long does it take the pulse to travel the 3.00 m of the string?
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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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