Question

how to know when a harmonic motion is sin or cos given the amplitude, frequence and minimal displacement. Also what max and min displacement mean?

Answer 1

i meant to say what does max and min displacement mean?

Answer 2

Displacement is simply the change of something. In this case, it is the change of height along the wave. The minimum and maximum displacement would be the maximum and minimum heights. As for knowing whether it is a sin or cos, it really just depends on what you would rather deal with. They are technically the same wave, it just depends on where you consider to be the starting point. If the wave is attached to something, then I would use sine but if it starts at the top or bottom, I would use cosine

Answer 3

I'm looking through my old physics notes now to double check on the sin/cos thing

Answer 4

Yeah, I'm not seeing that it should matter.

Answer 5

okay so does that mean amplitude and displacement is the same?

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure that the amplitude is the absolute value of the displacement

Answer 7

so what if it was find a function that models the simple harmonic motion with amplitude 15 cm, frequency 10Hz and minimal displacement at t=0

Answer 8

What are you trying to find it in terms of? Just y = whatever?

Answer 9

no to find the function...so you have to make the equation given the information

Answer 10

do you know how to do it..i have been stuck on how to start it for a while.

Answer 11

I can't remember what the basic formula is... isn't it somehting like y = Acos(omega*t)? I think your best bet is to start solving for those variables

Answer 12

yeah im still kinda confused..i guess i will just ask my professor. thanks

Answer 13

Sorry :/