Example 1: Variables x, v and a

A block of mass m = 1 kg is attached to a spring with a stiffness k = 100

N/m. The amplitude of motion is A = 0.1 m.
a) If the block is at x = 0.05 m, then determine its velocity and its
acceleration.
b) At what positions x, does the block have a maximum velocity?
c) At what positions x, does the block have a = -amax?

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 1

Example 1: Variables x, v and a
A block of mass m = 1 kg is attached to a spring with a stiffness k = 100 N/m. The amplitude of
motion is A = 0.1 m.
a) If the block is at x = 0.05 m, then determine its velocity and its acceleration.
b) At what positions x, does the block have a maximum velocity?
c) At what positions x, does the block have a = +-amax?

a) 𝑎=−
  𝜔2 𝑥
b) 𝑇h𝑒
  𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 h𝑎𝑠 𝑣 =± 𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑡 𝑥=0
  𝑘 100
𝜔= =
𝑚 √ √
1
=10 𝑟𝑎𝑑 / 𝑠 c)  

2 2
→
  𝑎= −10 × 0.05=−5 𝑚 / 𝑠

𝑣  =± 𝜔 √ 𝐴2 − 𝑥 2=± 10 √ 0.12 − 0.052=± 0.86 𝑚/ 𝑠

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 2

Example 2: Conservation of mechanical
energy
A block of mass m = 1 kg attached to a spring with a stiffness k = 50
N/m has an initial position x0 = 0.1 m and an initial velocity v0 = 0.15
m/s.
a) Use the conservation of mechanical energy to determine the
amplitude of motion.
b) Determine the position of the block at which the kinetic energy is
half the elastic potential energy (If K = U/2  x = ?)
c) Determine the position of the block at which the kinetic energy is
half the elastic potential energy (If K = U/2  v = ?)

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 3

Example 2: Conservation of mechanical energy
A block of mass m = 1 kg attached to a spring with a stiffness k = 50 N/m has an initial position
x0 = 0.1 m and an initial velocity v0 = 0.5 m/s.
a) Use the conservation of mechanical energy to determine the amplitude of motion.
b) Determine the position of the block at which the kinetic energy is half the elastic potential
energy (If K = U/2  x = ?)
c) Determine the position of the block at which the kinetic energy is half the elastic potential
energy (If K = U/2  v = ?)
a) 1  𝑚 𝑣 2 + 1 𝑘 𝑥2 = 1 𝑘 𝐴 2
0 0
2 2 2

 𝐴2 = 𝑥20 + 𝑚 𝑣 20
𝑘
  𝑚 2 1
√𝑘
2
0
2
50 √2
𝐴= 𝑥 + 𝑣 0= 0.1 + ×0.5 =0.12 𝑚

PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 4

Example 2: Conservation of mechanical energy
A block of mass m = 1 kg attached to a spring with a stiffness k = 50 N/m has an initial position
x0 = 0.1 m and an initial velocity v0 = 0.5 m/s.
a) Use the conservation of mechanical energy to determine the amplitude of motion.
b) Determine the position of the block at which the kinetic energy is half the elastic potential
energy (If K = U/2  x = ?)
c) Determine the velocity of the block at which the kinetic energy is half the elastic potential
energy (If K = U/2  v = ?)
b) 𝐾
  +𝑈 =𝐸 c) 𝐾
  +𝑈 =𝐸
𝑈
  +𝑈 =𝐸 𝐾
  +2 𝐾 =𝐸
2
3  𝐾= 𝐸
3  𝑈 1 1
=𝐸 2
3  𝑚 𝑣 = 𝑘 𝐴
2
2 2 2
  𝑘 𝐴
√
2
3  1 1   𝑥=± 𝐴  𝑣 2 = 𝑘 𝐴
22
𝑘 𝑥2 = 𝑘 𝐴2
2
→ → 𝑣=±
√3 𝑚 3 𝑚 √3
PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20 5
Example 3: x(t); v(t)
a) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = A/2 and the block is moving to the left.
Determine the phase constant ϕ.
b) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = -A. Determine the phase constant ϕ.
Method 1

𝑥
  ( 𝑡 )= 𝐴 cos ( 𝜔 𝑡 + 𝜑 ) 𝑣  ( 𝑡 )=− 𝜔 𝐴 sin ( 𝜔 𝑡 +𝜑 )
𝑥
  0= 𝐴 cos ( 𝜑 ) 𝑣  0 =− 𝜔 𝐴 sin 𝜑
𝑣0
  𝜑= 𝑥 0 = 𝐴 / 2 = 1
cos   𝜑 =−
sin > 0( 𝑣 0 <0)
𝐴 𝐴 2 𝜔𝐴
𝜋  𝜋
 
sin >0
−1 1 3 3
 
𝜑=cos
2
=¿() 𝜋   −𝜋
 
𝜑=
𝜋
3
𝑟𝑎𝑑
−  sin <0
3 3

6
PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20
Example 3: x(t); v(t)
a) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = A/2 and the block is moving to the left.
Determine the phase constant ϕ.
b) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = -A. Determine the phase constant ϕ.
Method 2
t=0

𝝋    𝜑= 𝑥0 𝐴 / 2 1
cos = =
𝐴 𝐴 2
−  𝐴 𝑥=0
  +  𝐴 𝜋
 
𝜑= 𝑟𝑎𝑑
3

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PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20
Example 3: x(t); v(t)
a) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = A/2 and the block is moving to the left.
Determine the phase constant ϕ.
b) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = -A. Determine the phase constant ϕ.
Method 1

𝑥
  ( 𝑡 )= 𝐴 cos ( 𝜔 𝑡 + 𝜑 )
𝑣  ( 𝑡 )=− 𝜔 𝐴 sin ( 𝜔 𝑡 +𝜑 )
𝑥  0= 𝐴 cos ( 𝜑 )
𝑣  0 =− 𝜔 𝐴 sin 𝜑=0
  𝜑= 𝑥 0 = − 𝐴 =− 1
cos
𝐴 𝐴

−1
𝜋 
𝜑=cos
  ( − 1 )=¿ 𝜑=𝜋
  𝑟𝑎𝑑
−  𝜋

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PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20
Example 3: x(t); v(t)
a) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = A/2 and the block is moving to the left.
Determine the phase constant ϕ.
b) At t = 0, the block is at x0 = -A. Determine the phase constant ϕ.
Method 2

𝝋 

𝜑=𝜋
  𝑟𝑎𝑑
−  𝐴 𝑥=0
  +  𝐴

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PHYS220 by Dr. Salam Sakr, Spring 19-20