Amplitude, Phase, and Equation of a Spring Oscillator

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Oscillations and Waves Beginner Wave function

Source: High school physics (Chinese)

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Waves

Problem

A spring oscillator moves along the $x$ axis. At $t = 0$ its position is $x_0 = 3$ cm and it is moving in the $+x$ direction with speed $v_0 = 6\pi$ cm/s. Its oscillation frequency is $ u = 1$ Hz.

  1. Find the amplitude and the initial phase.
  2. Write its equation of motion.
$A = 3\sqrt{2} \approx 4.2$ cm, $\;\varphi_0 = -\dfrac{\pi}{4}$, $\;x = 3\sqrt{2}\cos\!\left(2\pi t - \dfrac{\pi}{4}\right)$ cm.

The angular frequency is $\omega = 2\pi u = 2\pi$ rad/s. Write the motion as $x = A\cos(\omega t + \varphi_0)$, so that $x_0 = A\cos\varphi_0$ and $v_0 = -A\omega\sin\varphi_0$.

Amplitude: squaring and adding,

$$A = \sqrt{x_0^2 + \left(\frac{v_0}{\omega}\right)^2} = \sqrt{3^2 + \left(\frac{6\pi}{2\pi}\right)^2} = \sqrt{9 + 9} = 3\sqrt{2} \approx 4.2 \text{ cm}.$$

Initial phase: $\cos\varphi_0 = \dfrac{x_0}{A} = \dfrac{3}{3\sqrt{2}} = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$. Since $v_0 > 0$, $\sin\varphi_0 = -\dfrac{v_0}{A\omega} < 0$, so $\varphi_0$ lies in the fourth quadrant:

$$\varphi_0 = -\frac{\pi}{4}.$$

Equation of motion:

$$x = 3\sqrt{2}\cos\!\left(2\pi t - \frac{\pi}{4}\right) \text{ cm}.$$