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Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

The document discusses the motion of a mass attached to an elastic band that is vibrating vertically. It provides the equation of motion (s = 2cos(t) + 3sin(t)) and calculates the velocity and acceleration functions. Graphs of the position, velocity, and acceleration are provided. The document then answers questions about when the mass passes through its equilibrium position for the first time (t ≈ 2.55), how far from equilibrium it travels (≈ 3.61 cm), and when the speed is greatest (t ≈ 2.55, 5.70, 8.84, etc).

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Jeanny Mae Pesebre
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89 views2 pages

Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

The document discusses the motion of a mass attached to an elastic band that is vibrating vertically. It provides the equation of motion (s = 2cos(t) + 3sin(t)) and calculates the velocity and acceleration functions. Graphs of the position, velocity, and acceleration are provided. The document then answers questions about when the mass passes through its equilibrium position for the first time (t ≈ 2.55), how far from equilibrium it travels (≈ 3.61 cm), and when the speed is greatest (t ≈ 2.55, 5.70, 8.84, etc).

Uploaded by

Jeanny Mae Pesebre
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Calculus I, Section 3.

3, #36
Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

An elastic band is hung on a hook and a mass is hung on the lower end of the band. When the mass is pulled
downward and then released, it vibrates vertically. The equation of motion is s = 2 cos (t) + 3 sin (t), t > 0,
where s is measured in centimeters and t is seconds. (Take the positive direction to be downward.)1
(a) Find the velocity and acceleration at time t.
s(t) = 2 cos (t) + 3 sin (t)
so
v(t) = s′ (t) = −2 sin (t) + 3 cos (t)
a(t) = v ′ (t) = −2 cos (t) − 3 sin (t)

(b) Graph the velocity and acceleration functions.

y
s
3

1 v

x
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

-1

-2

-3
a

-4

(c) When does the mass pass through the equilibrium position for the first time?
The “equilibrium position” would be where the mass hangs before it is pulled downward, i.e., at s = 0.
From the graph, when s = 0, it seems t ≈ 2.5. For a better result, we solve

0 = 2 cos (t) + 3 sin (t)


−2 cos (t) = 3 sin (t)
3 sin (t)
−2 =
cos (t)
2
− = tan (t)
 3

2
tan−1 − = tan−1 (tan (t))
3
−0.5880 ≈ t

Using the inverse tangent has given us a negative value, but we know t > 0. The first positive solution
to tan (t) = − 32 will be ≈ −0.5880 + π ≈ 2.5536.

1 Stewart, Calculus, Early Transcendentals, p. 196, #36.


Calculus I
Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

(d) How far from its equilibrium position does the mass travel?
The mass will reach its maximum distance from zero when its v = 0. (The mass is rising upward,
reaches a maximum where v = 0, and the falls back down.)
From the graph, when v = 0, it seems t ≈ 1. For a better result, we solve

0 = −2 sin (t) + 3 cos (t)


−3 cos (t) = −2 sin (t)
−2 sin (t)
−3 =
cos (t)
3
= tan (t)
 2
3
tan−1 = tan−1 (tan (t))
2
0.9828 ≈ t

Using the inverse tangent has given us a positive value that is very close to our graphical solution.
When t ≈ 0.9828, s (0.9828) ≈ 2 cos (0.9828) + 3 sin (0.9828) ≈ 3.6056. Thus the mass travels about
3.6056 cm from its equilibrium position.
(e) When is the speed the greatest?
Speed is the absolute value of the velocity. |v|. Since the velocity is zero when the mass reaches its
maximum or minimum, the speed will be greatest when the mass is moving through the equilibrium
point, i.e., when s = 0.
From part (c) and out knowledge of the inverse tangent function, s = 0 when t = tan−1 − 32 +kπ, where


k is a positive integer since t > 0. So the speed will be the greatest when t ≈ 2.5536, 5.6952, 8.8368, . . . .

The diagram at right shows the angle t ≈ −0.5880


that we get from the inverse tangent directly ap-
plied to tan (t) = − 32 , and the additional rota-
tion of π that takes us to the next solution of
tan (t) = − 32 . For each additional rotation of π,
2
 to tan (t) = − 3 . Thus we
we get another solution
−1 2
write t = tan − 3 + kπ.

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