A particle moves in a simple harmonic motion between O to A and B
and back to O as shown. The positions B, B1, O, A1 and A are
equally spaced. The time taken to travel from A to B is 5.00 s and
the distance AB is 4.00 m.
a) Write an equation to represent the given
simple harmonic motion.
b) During one cycle, find the time that the
particle stays in the region:
i) A-A1
ii) A1-B1
[ x = 0.200 sin (0.628 t) , 0.833 s , 3.33 s ]
a) since x0 is half of AB = 4 m
x0 = 2.00 m
the equation is x = x0 sin(ωt)
to find ω, and we can given T, we use
thus the equation is x = 2.00 sin(0.628t)
b) the strategy is to find the time which all the points B, B1, O, A1 and A occurs.
to find time from A to A1,
when x = A1 = 1.00, imply 1.00 = 2.00 sin (0.628t), therefore tA1 = 0.833 s
similarly, when x = A = 2.00, imply 2.00 = 2.00sin (0.628t), therefore tA = 2.50 s
time from A1 to A = tA -tA1 = 2.50 - 0.833 = 1.66 s
therefore time from A1 to A to A1 = (1.66)(2) = 3.33 s
b) since we know t 0 to A1 = 0.833 s
by comparing the 4 equal sections of OA1 = A1O = OB1 = B1O = 0.833 s
the total time spent inside A1B1 = (4)(0.833) = 3.33 s
