OCR MEI M3 2008 January — Question 3

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
Year2008
SessionJanuary
TopicSimple Harmonic Motion

3 A particle is oscillating in a vertical line. At time \(t\) seconds, its displacement above the centre of the oscillations is \(x\) metres, where \(x = A \sin \omega t + B \cos \omega t\) (and \(A , B\) and \(\omega\) are constants).
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } x } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } = - \omega ^ { 2 } x\). When \(t = 0\), the particle is 2 m above the centre of the oscillations, the velocity is \(1.44 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) downwards, and the acceleration is \(0.18 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\) downwards.
  2. Find \(A , B\) and \(\omega\).
  3. Show that the period of oscillation is 20.9 s (correct to 3 significant figures), and find the amplitude.
  4. Find the total distance travelled by the particle between \(t = 12\) and \(t = 24\).