Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Damped Oscillator
A damped oscillator is a system in which the amplitude of oscillation decreases over time due to energy loss, often modeled by an exponential decay function. In the given equation, the term '2.5e⁻ᵗ' represents this damping effect, indicating that the displacement diminishes as time progresses.
Recommended video:
Cases Where Limits Do Not Exist
Trigonometric Functions
The cosine function, represented as 'cos 2t' in the equation, is a periodic function that describes oscillatory motion. It oscillates between -1 and 1, and its argument '2t' indicates the frequency of oscillation, which affects how quickly the object moves up and down.
Recommended video:
Introduction to Trigonometric Functions
Finding Roots of Equations
To find when the object first passes the rest position (y = 0), we need to solve the equation '2.5e⁻ᵗ cos 2t = 0'. This involves determining the values of 't' for which the cosine function equals zero, as the exponential term is never zero. The roots of the cosine function occur at specific intervals, which can be calculated to find the desired time.
Recommended video:
Solving Logarithmic Equations