<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

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).
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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).
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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.
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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 ) .
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Ayele, K., 2003. Introductory Economics, 3rd ed., Addis Ababa.
Widad Reply
can you send the book attached ?
Ariel
?
Ariel
What is economics
Widad Reply
the study of how humans make choices under conditions of scarcity
AI-Robot
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn Reply
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn
what is ecnomics
Jan Reply
this is the study of how the society manages it's scarce resources
Belonwu
what is macroeconomic
John Reply
macroeconomic is the branch of economics which studies actions, scale, activities and behaviour of the aggregate economy as a whole.
husaini
etc
husaini
difference between firm and industry
husaini Reply
what's the difference between a firm and an industry
Abdul
firm is the unit which transform inputs to output where as industry contain combination of firms with similar production 😅😅
Abdulraufu
Suppose the demand function that a firm faces shifted from Qd  120 3P to Qd  90  3P and the supply function has shifted from QS  20  2P to QS 10  2P . a) Find the effect of this change on price and quantity. b) Which of the changes in demand and supply is higher?
Toofiq Reply
explain standard reason why economic is a science
innocent Reply
factors influencing supply
Petrus Reply
what is economic.
Milan Reply
scares means__________________ends resources. unlimited
Jan
economics is a science that studies human behaviour as a relationship b/w ends and scares means which have alternative uses
Jan
calculate the profit maximizing for demand and supply
Zarshad Reply
Why qualify 28 supplies
Milan
what are explicit costs
Nomsa Reply
out-of-pocket costs for a firm, for example, payments for wages and salaries, rent, or materials
AI-Robot
concepts of supply in microeconomics
David Reply
economic overview notes
Amahle Reply
identify a demand and a supply curve
Salome Reply
i don't know
Parul
there's a difference
Aryan
Demand curve shows that how supply and others conditions affect on demand of a particular thing and what percent demand increase whith increase of supply of goods
Israr
Hi Sir please how do u calculate Cross elastic demand and income elastic demand?
Abari
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 2

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Precalculus' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask