PROBLEMS INVOLVING CIRCULAR

FUNCTIONS – LESSON 5

Eathn Gavyn Smith Minoc

1: Introduction to Circular Functions
This module focuses on Situational Problems Involving Circular Functions, aiming to
help students understand and solve real-world problems related to periodic motion. Key
concepts include:
 Periodic Motion: A motion that repeats after a definite time interval.
 Circular Motion: A common example of periodic motion, seen in various daily
phenomena such as the movement of clock hands and pendulum swings.
Key Objectives:
After completing this module, students should be able to:
 Solve situational problems that involve circular functions.

2: Understanding Circular Functions

What’s In:
Students are encouraged to review the characteristics of circular functions through specific
activities. They will identify key properties such as:
 Period: The time taken to complete one cycle.
 Amplitude: The maximum displacement from the central position.
 Vertical Translation: The upward or downward shift of the function.
 Phase Shift: The horizontal shift in the function.
Example Activity:
Students will analyze various functions to determine their respective periods, amplitudes,
vertical translations, and phase shifts.

3: Simple Harmonic Motion

What is Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)?
SHM is a type of periodic motion that can be modeled using sine or cosine functions. Real-
life examples include:
 Oscillation of pendulums.
 Vibrations of strings.
 Waves in water.
Equations of Simple Harmonic Motion:
The displacement yy of an object in SHM can be expressed as:
y=asin⁡(b(t−c))+dory=acos⁡(b(t−c))+dy=asin(b(t−c))+dory=acos(b(t−c))+d
Where:
 aa is the amplitude.
 bb relates to the period TT via T=2πbT=b2π.
 cc is the phase shift.
 dd is the vertical translation.

4: Applications of Circular Functions

Real-World Situations:
1. Spring-Mass Systems: Analyzing the motion of weights suspended from springs.
2. Variable Stars: Modeling brightness fluctuations over time.
3. Ferris Wheel: Understanding height variations as it revolves.
Example Problem:
Given the equation for a spring-mass system:
y=6cos⁡(π8t)+5y=6cos(8πt)+5
 Find: Maximum displacement, frequency, and specific values of yy at given times.

5: Damped Harmonic Motion and Conclusion

Damped Harmonic Motion:
This occurs when the amplitude of motion decreases over time due to friction or resistance.
The general form is:
y=ke−ctcos⁡(bt)ory=ke−ctsin⁡(bt)y=ke−ctcos(bt)ory=ke−ctsin(bt)
Where cc is the damping constant and kk is the initial amplitude.

Circular Functions Summary

Circular functions, also known as trigonometric functions, relate the angles of a triangle to
the lengths of its sides. They are based on the unit circle, which has a radius of 1.
Key Circular Functions:
1. Sine Function (sin⁡sin)
 Definition: The sine of an angle is the y-coordinate of the point on the unit
circle corresponding to that angle.

 Example: sin⁡(30∘)=12sin(30∘)=21
2. Cosine Function (cos⁡cos)
 Definition: The cosine of an angle is the x-coordinate of the point on the unit
circle corresponding to that angle.

 Example: cos⁡(60∘)=12cos(60∘)=21
3. Tangent Function (tan⁡tan)
 Definition: The tangent of an angle is the ratio of the sine to the cosine of that
angle.

 Example: tan⁡(45∘)=1tan(45∘)=1
4. Cosecant Function (csc⁡csc)
 Definition: The cosecant is the reciprocal of the sine function.

 Example: csc⁡(30∘)=2csc(30∘)=2
5. Secant Function (sec⁡sec)
 Definition: The secant is the reciprocal of the cosine function.

 Example: sec⁡(60∘)=2sec(60∘)=2
6. Cotangent Function (cot⁡cot)
 Definition: The cotangent is the reciprocal of the tangent function.

 Example: cot⁡(45∘)=1cot(45∘)=1
Applications:
 Circular functions are widely used in physics, engineering, and computer graphics.
They are essential for understanding wave motion, oscillations, and circular motion.

Key Properties of Circular Functions

1. Periodicity:
 All circular functions are periodic, meaning they repeat their values in regular
intervals.
 For example:
 sin⁡(x)sin(x) and cos⁡(x)cos(x) have a period of 2π2π.
 tan⁡(x)tan(x) has a period of ππ.
2. Symmetry:
 Even Functions:
 cos⁡(x)cos(x) is an even function: cos⁡(−x)=cos⁡(x)cos(−x)=cos(x).
 Odd Functions:
 sin⁡(x)sin(x) and tan⁡(x)tan(x) are odd
functions: sin⁡(−x)=−sin⁡(x)sin(−x)=−sin(x) and tan⁡(−x)=−tan⁡(x)tan(−x)
=−tan(x).
3. Pythagorean Identity:
 The relationship between sine and cosine:
sin⁡2(x)+cos⁡2(x)=1.sin2(x)+cos2(x)=1.
4. Reciprocal Relationships:
 The circular functions have reciprocal identities:
 csc⁡(x)=1sin⁡(x)csc(x)=sin(x)1
 sec⁡(x)=1cos⁡(x)sec(x)=cos(x)1
 cot⁡(x)=1tan⁡(x)cot(x)=tan(x)1
5. Angle Sum and Difference Formulas:
 These formulas help in simplifying expressions involving sums or differences
of angles:
 sin⁡(a+b)=sin⁡(a)cos⁡(b)+cos⁡(a)sin⁡(b)sin(a+b)=sin(a)cos(b)+cos(a)sin(b)
 cos⁡(a+b)=cos⁡(a)cos⁡(b)−sin⁡(a)sin⁡(b)cos(a+b)=cos(a)cos(b)−sin(a)sin(b)
6. Co-Function Identities:
 These identities relate the values of circular functions of complementary
angles:
 sin⁡(π2−x)=cos⁡(x)sin(2π−x)=cos(x)
 cos⁡(π2−x)=sin⁡(x)cos(2π−x)=sin(x)
 7. Range and Domain:
 The domain of sine and cosine functions is all real numbers, while the range
is [−1,1][−1,1].
 The domain of the tangent function is all real numbers except for odd
multiples of π22π, and its range is all real numbers.

The Unit Circle

The unit circle is a circle in the Cartesian coordinate plane with a center at the origin (0,0)
(0,0) and a radius of 1. It is a fundamental concept in trigonometry and has several important
properties and applications.
Key Features of the Unit Circle:
 1. Equation:
 The equation of the unit circle is given by:
x2+y2=1.x2+y2=1.
This equation represents all points (x,y)(x,y) that are at a distance of 1 from the
origin.
2. Coordinates:
 Any point on the unit circle corresponds to an angle θθ measured from the
positive x-axis. The coordinates of this point can be expressed in terms of sine
and cosine:
 For an angle θθ:
(x,y)=(cos⁡(θ),sin⁡(θ)).(x,y)=(cos(θ),sin(θ)).
3. Quadrants:
 The unit circle is divided into four quadrants:
 1st Quadrant: (both xx and yy are positive)
 2nd Quadrant: (x is negative, y is positive)
 3rd Quadrant: (both xx and yy are negative)
 4th Quadrant: (x is positive, y is negative)
Significance of the Unit Circle:
1. Trigonometric Functions:
 The unit circle provides a geometric interpretation of the sine, cosine, and
tangent functions. The x-coordinate represents the cosine value, and the y-
coordinate represents the sine value for any angle θθ.
2. Angle Measurement:
 Angles can be measured in both degrees and radians,
where 360∘360∘ corresponds to 2π2π radians. The unit circle helps in
converting between these two measurement systems.
3. Periodicity:
 The periodic nature of trigonometric functions can be visualized on the unit
circle. As the angle increases, the coordinates repeat in a cyclical pattern.
4. Determining Values:
 Using the unit circle, one can easily determine the values of trigonometric
functions for special angles (e.g., 30∘30∘, 45∘45∘, 60∘60∘, 90∘90∘, etc.).
5. Applications:
  The unit circle is used in various fields, including physics, engineering, and
computer graphics, to model periodic phenomena such as waves and
oscillations.

Key Functions Associated with the Unit Circle

1. Sine Function (sin⁡sin)
 Definition: The sine of an angle θθ corresponds to the y-coordinate of the
point on the unit circle.
 Formula:
sin⁡(θ)=ysin(θ)=y
2. Cosine Function (cos⁡cos)
  Definition: The cosine of an angle θθ corresponds to the x-coordinate of the
point on the unit circle.
 Formula:
cos⁡(θ)=xcos(θ)=x
3. Tangent Function (tan⁡tan)
 Definition: The tangent of an angle θθ is the ratio of the sine to the cosine,
representing the slope of the line formed by the angle.
 Formula:
tan⁡(θ)=sin⁡(θ)cos⁡(θ)=yxtan(θ)=cos(θ)sin(θ)=xy
4. Cosecant Function (csc⁡csc)
 Definition: The cosecant is the reciprocal of the sine function.
 Formula:
csc⁡(θ)=1sin⁡(θ)=1ycsc(θ)=sin(θ)1=y1
5. Secant Function (sec⁡sec)
 Definition: The secant is the reciprocal of the cosine function.
 Formula:
sec⁡(θ)=1cos⁡(θ)=1xsec(θ)=cos(θ)1=x1
6. Cotangent Function (cot⁡cot)
 Definition: The cotangent is the reciprocal of the tangent function.
 Formula:
cot⁡(θ)=1tan⁡(θ)=cos⁡(θ)sin⁡(θ)=xycot(θ)=tan(θ)1=sin(θ)cos(θ)=yx

Special Angles and Their Values:

The unit circle helps determine the values of trigonometric functions for key angles:

 0∘0∘ or 00:
 sin⁡(0)=0sin(0)=0, cos⁡(0)=1cos(0)=1

 30∘30∘ or π66π:

 sin⁡(30∘)=12sin(30∘)=21, cos⁡(30∘)=32cos(30∘)=23
  45∘45∘ or π44π:

 sin⁡(45∘)=22sin(45∘)=22, cos⁡(45∘)=22cos(45∘)=22

 60∘60∘ or π33π:

 sin⁡(60∘)=32sin(60∘)=23, cos⁡(60∘)=12cos(60∘)=21

 90∘90∘ or π22π:

 sin⁡(90∘)=1sin(90∘)=1, cos⁡(90∘)=0cos(90∘)=0

These functions and their relationships to the unit circle are essential for understanding
trigonometry and its applications. If you need further clarification or specific examples,

ACTIVITY 1 :
QUESTIONS:
1. Describe a real-world example of periodic motion. What characteristics make it periodic?
2. Given the equation for simple harmonic motion:
y=4sin⁡(6π(t−3))+5y=4sin(6π(t−3))+5
Determine the maximum displacement and the frequency of this motion.
3. A Ferris wheel has a diameter of 20 meters and the lowest point of the wheel is 4 meters
off the ground. Write the cosine function that models your height above the ground as a
function of time tt (in seconds) if it takes 32 seconds to complete one revolution.
4. For the variable star Delta Cephei, the time between maximum brightness periods is 5 days
and the average brightness is 4, varying by ±0.35 magnitude. What is the value of bb in the
equation y=acos⁡(bt)+dy=acos(bt)+d that models the brightness of the star?
5. A weight suspended from a spring oscillates in simple harmonic motion. If it takes 15
seconds to reach its highest position after being pushed up 7 cm above the resting position,
what is the equation of motion for this weight?

ACTIVITY 1 :
ANSWERS:
1. Periodic Motion Example: A real-world example of periodic motion is the swinging of
a pendulum. Characteristics that make it periodic include a regular time interval for
each complete cycle (the time it takes to swing back and forth) and a consistent
pattern of motion (the path followed by the pendulum).
2. Simple Harmonic Motion: Given the equation y=4sin⁡(6π(t−3))+5y=4sin(6π(t−3))+5:
 The maximum displacement (amplitude) is 44.
 To find the frequency, we look at the coefficient of tt inside the sine function,
which is 6π6π. The frequency ff can be calculated using the
formula f=coefficient of t2πf=2πcoefficient of t. Thus,
f=6π2π=3 Hzf=2π6π=3Hz
3. Ferris Wheel Height Function: The height h(t)h(t) above the ground as a function of
time tt can be modeled with the cosine function:
h(t)=10cos⁡(π16t)+14h(t)=10cos(16πt)+14
Here, the amplitude is half the diameter (10 m), the vertical shift is the distance from
the ground to the center of the Ferris wheel (10 m + 4 m = 14 m), and the period is 32
seconds, so the coefficient of tt is 2π32=π16322π=16π.
4. Delta Cephei Brightness: In the equation y=acos⁡(bt)+dy=acos(bt)+d:
 The period TT is 5 days, so the frequency bb is calculated using the
formula b=2πT=2π5b=T2π=52π.
5. Oscillation Equation: For the weight oscillating in simple harmonic motion, the
general equation can be written as:
y(t)=7cos⁡(2π15t)y(t)=7cos(152πt)
Here, the amplitude is 7 cm (the initial push) and the period is 15 seconds, so the
coefficient of tt is 2π15152π.