Modeling with Periodic Functions Answers

Suppose that you want to model the height of a rider on a Ferris wheel as a function of time, t, in minutes. If the rider is at the bottom of the Ferris wheel at t = 0 minutes, which of the following would be easiest to use?

A buoy starts at a height of 0 in relation to sea level and then goes up. Its maximum displacement in either direction is 6 feet, and the time it takes to go from its highest point to its lowest point is 4 seconds. Which of the following equations can be used to model h, the height in feet of the buoy in relation to sea level as a function of time, t, in seconds?

Throughout the day, the depth of water at the end of a dock varies with the tides. The function represents the height, in feet, of the water t hours after midnight.Which graph shows the height of the water at the dock at any time after midnight?

Which of the following situations can be modeled with a periodic function?

The height, h, in feet of a buoy in relation to sea level as a function of time, t, in seconds can be modeled by the graph below. How long does it take for the buoy to go from its highest point to its lowest point and then back to its highest point?

The equation can be used to model the height, h, in feet of the end of one blade of a windmill turning on an axis above the ground as a function of time, t, in seconds. How long is the blade? Assume that the blade is pointing to the right, parallel to the ground, at t = 0, and that the windmill turns counterclockwise at a constant rate.

A weight attached to a spring is at its lowest point, 9 inches below equilibrium, at time t = 0 seconds. When the weight it released, it oscillates and returns to its original position at t = 3 seconds. Which of the following equations models the distance, d, of the weight from its equilibrium after t seconds?

The height, h, in feet of a piece of cloth tied to a waterwheel in relation to sea level as a function of time, t, in seconds can be modeled by the equation . What is the period of the function?

A driver runs over a nail, puncturing the tire without causing a leak. The position of the nail in the tire, with relation to the ground, while the car is moving at a constant speed is shown in the table. Time (s)Approximate height of the nail off the ground (inches)000.012.10.027.60.0314.90.0421.50.0525.50.0625.50.0721.5Which key feature of the function representing the nail’s travel can be used to determine the amount of time it takes for the nail to reach the same orientation it had when it entered the tire?

The distance, d, in inches of a weight attached to a spring from its equilibrium as a function of time, t, in seconds can be modeled by the graph below. Which equation is represented in the graph below?