286 Ordinary Differential Equations
The roots of the auxiliary equation, mr^2 + k = 0, are r 1 = ../klffii = wi
and r 2 = -../klffii = -wi. So the general solution of the differential
equation in (23) is eitherwhere A 1 and A 2 are constants which are to be chosen to satisfy the
initial conditions or equivalentlyy(t) = Asin(wt + ¢)
where A and¢ are constants which are to be chosen to satisfy the initial
conditions.Differentiating the second form of the general solution of the differ-
ential equation, we see thaty'(t) = wAcos (wt+¢).In order to satisfy the initial conditions given in (23), the constants A
and ¢ must be chosen to simultaneously satisfyy(O) =A sin¢= -.6 rads and y'(O) = wAcos¢ = .3 rads/s.
Dividing the first equation by the second, we find ¢ must satisfysin¢ -.6
---= - = -2 s.
wcos¢ .3Multiplying by w = ..Jk7ffi = )2.178/.2 = 3.3 rads/s, we see tan¢=
-6.6. So ¢ = -1.42 radians. Next, solving the equation A sin¢ = -.6
for A, yieldsA= -.6 = -.6
sin¢ sin( -1.42)-.6
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98865= .607 rads.Thus, the equation of motion for this pendulum isy(t) =A sin (wt+¢) = .607 sin (3.3t - 1.42).
b. The amplitude is A = .607 radians.The period is P = 27r/w = 27r/3.3 = 1.904 seconds.The frequency is F = 1/ P = .5252 cycles/second.c. The phase angle is ¢ = -1.42 radians.