Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
Simple Harmonic Motion is a type of periodic motion where an object oscillates around an equilibrium position. The motion can be described by a sine or cosine function, which captures the object's displacement over time. In this context, the equation d = −1/2 sin(πt/4 − π/2) represents the displacement of the object as a function of time, highlighting the oscillatory nature of SHM.
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Amplitude and Maximum Displacement
The amplitude of a simple harmonic motion is the maximum distance the object moves from its equilibrium position. In the given equation, the amplitude is represented by the coefficient of the sine function, which is -1/2. The maximum displacement, therefore, is the absolute value of this coefficient, indicating how far the object can move from its central position during its oscillation.
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Frequency and Period
Frequency refers to the number of cycles an object completes in one second, while the period is the time taken to complete one full cycle. These two concepts are inversely related; the period (T) can be calculated as T = 1/frequency (f). In the equation provided, the frequency can be derived from the coefficient of t in the sine function, allowing us to determine how quickly the object oscillates.
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