# Graphing Trig function

• Oct 20th 2009, 06:17 PM
Chinnie15
Graphing Trig function
The position of the top of a tine on a tuning fork in meters is given by:

x=10^-3^sin(880pi(t)+pi/2)

where t is the time in seconds. Give the amplitude, period, and phase shift (displacement) for the function and graph the function through one full period. How many times does the tine oscillate in one second?

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I know that the amplitude is 10^-3^ and the phase shift is pi/2, or I think it is. But do I have to distribute to find the period? And how do I find the oscillation?

Thank you!
• Oct 20th 2009, 06:20 PM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinnie15
The position of the top of a tine on a tuning fork in meters is given by:

x=10^-3^sin(880pi(t)+pi/2)

where t is the time in seconds. Give the amplitude, period, and phase shift (displacement) for the function and graph the function through one full period. How many times does the tine oscillate in one second?

__________________________________________________ __

I know that the amplitude is 10^-3^ and the phase shift is pi/2, or I think it is. But do I have to distribute to find the period? And how do I find the oscillation?

Thank you!

Period $= \frac{2 \pi}{880 \pi} = ....$.

Frequency = 1/period.
• Oct 20th 2009, 07:29 PM
Chinnie15
Thanks! I understand a little more, but I'm still not getting the period? What about the oscillation? If the period is 2pi/880pi, is that also the frequency? I'm still confused, and I'm also confused with how to write 10^-3^ on the y axis.
• Oct 20th 2009, 08:03 PM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinnie15
Thanks! I understand a little more, but I'm still not getting the period? What about the oscillation? If the period is 2pi/880pi, is that also the frequency? I'm still confused, and I'm also confused with how to write 10^-3^ on the y axis.

You should simplify the period by dividing by common factors. Then, as I said before, frequency = 1/Period. Note: By definition, frequency is the number of oscillations per second.