A mass of 1 slug is suspended from a spring whose spring constant is 9 lb/ft. The mass is initially released from a point 1 foot above the equilibrium position with an upward velocity of Ï3 ft/s. Find the times at which the mass is heading downward at a velocity of 3 ft/s.

t = 5π/18 + 2nπ/3 or π/6 + 2nπ/3 where n is a natural number

Explanation:

To solve the problem/ we first write the differential equation governing the motion. So,

with m = 1 slug and k = 9 lb/ft, the equation becomes

The characteristic equation is

D² + 9 = 0

D = ±√-9 = ±3i

The general solution of the above equation is thus

x(t) = c₁cos3t + c₂sin3t

Now, our initial conditions are

x(0) = -1 ft and x'(0) = -√3 ft/s

differentiating x(t), we have

x'(t) = -3c₁sin3t + 3c₂cos3t

So,

x(0) = c₁cos(3 × 0) + c₂sin(3 × 0)

x(0) = c₁cos(0) + c₂sin(0)

x(0) = c₁ × (1) + c₂ × 0

x(0) = c₁ + 0

x(0) = c₁ = -1

Also,

x'(0) = -3c₁sin(3 × 0) + 3c₂cos(3 × 0)

x'(0) = -3c₁sin(0) + 3c₂cos(0)

x'(0) = -3c₁ × 0 + 3c₂ × 1

x'(0) = 0 + 3c₂

x'(0) = 3c₂ = -√3

c₂ = -√3/3

So,

x(t) = -cos3t - (√3/3)sin3t

Now, we convert x(t) into the form x(t) = Asin(ωt + Φ)

where A = √c₁² + c₂² = √[(-1)² + (-√3/3)²] = √(1 + 1/3) = √4/3 = 2/√3 = 2√3/3 and Ф = tan⁻¹(c₁/c₂) = tan⁻¹(-1/-√3/3) = tan⁻¹(3/√3) = tan⁻¹(√3) = π/3.

Since tanФ > 0, Ф is in the third quadrant. So, Ф = π/3 + π = 4π/3

x(t) = (2√3/3)sin(3t + 4π/3)

So, the velocity  v(t) = x'(t) = (2√3)cos(3t + 4π/3)

We now find the times when v(t) = 3 ft/s

So (2√3)cos(3t + 4π/3) = 3

cos(3t + 4π/3) = 3/2√3

cos(3t + 4π/3) = √3/2

(3t + 4π/3) = cos⁻¹(√3/2)

3t + 4π/3 = ±π/6 + 2kπ    where k is an integer

3t  = ±π/6 + 2kπ - 4π/3

t  = ±π/18 + 2kπ/3 - 4π/9

t = π/18 + 2kπ/3 - 4π/9 or -π/18 + 2kπ/3 - 4π/9

t = π/18 - 4π/9 + 2kπ/3  or -π/18 - 4π/9 + 2kπ/3

t = -7π/18 + 2kπ/3 or -π/2 + 2kπ/3

Since t is not less than 0, the values of k ≤ 0 are not included

So when k = 1,

t = 5π/18 and π/6. So,

t = 5π/18 + 2nπ/3 or π/6 + 2nπ/3 where n is a natural number