All Problems

Mechanical Oscillations

Problem 4.14

A point moves in the plane xy according to the law x=x= =asinωt,y=bcosωt,=a \sin \omega t, y=b \cos \omega t, where a,b,a, b, and ω\omega are positive constants. Find: (a) the trajectory equation y(x)y(x) of the point and the direction of its motion along this trajectory; (b) the acceleration w\mathbf{w} of the point as a function of its radius vector r relative to the origin of coordinates.

Reveal Answer
(a) x2/a2+y2/b2=1,x^{2} / a^{2}+y^{2} / b^{2}=1, clockwise; (b) w=ω2r\mathbf{w}=-\omega^{2} \mathbf{r}.