View Full Version : Equations related to simple harmonic motion
 
 clairegibraltar
May 17, 2007, 07:23 AM
This is a really urgent question! 
 
If x=Acos2 pie ft, 
then how does f affect x?
 Capuchin
May 17, 2007, 08:49 AM
sinusoidally, according to the equation.
 ebaines
May 17, 2007, 10:25 AM
Increase the frequency f, and x cycles faster.
 SameOldSituation
May 22, 2007, 12:16 PM
I'm a little confused.  I thought x was displacement.  If any side of the right part of the equation is increased, obviously so is the left.  Then, wouldn't displacement be increased?  Ie---the total "distance" covered?  (Yes, I know it osciallates back and forth, and thus in a given time, increasing frequency will increase how fast it cycles.)  
 
"x cycles faster" incorporates time... do you say that because the equation is x as a fuction of t?  Would it be wrong to simply say, "as frequency increases, so does displacement," and just leave it at that?
 Capuchin
May 22, 2007, 12:22 PM
No, because the f and t are inside the cos. X can be 0 at a given f, depending on t.
 ebaines
May 22, 2007, 12:34 PM
It would be easier to see if the original equation had been written out properly:
 
  x(t) = A \dot cos(2 \pi f t) 
 
Here t is time (typically seconds), f is frequency (cycles/second), A is the amplitude (meters), and x(t) is the displacement as a function of time.  You can see that this function cyces from -A to +A in a sinusoid pattern at a frequency of f cycles per second.  Increasing f does nothing to the maximum value that x(t) can reach.
 tactoth
May 22, 2007, 11:57 PM
The formula looks clear
 SameOldSituation
May 23, 2007, 06:41 AM
Yeah... that makes sense.  I think I was confusing amplitude and disp.  Thanks.