Not sure if I understand your point, by saying "the maximum is obviously achieved when both cosines are =1" I meant to say that the maximum occurs when both cosines are equal to 1 (when t=2k pi, k integer). Is this correct, sir?
Apparently, I forgot that since those 2 directions are perpendicular, a= sqrt ( ax^2+ay^2) , where ax is the acceleration found by differentiating vx from b) and the same for ay. Basically, I have to maximize sqrt ( a^2*w^4*cos^2 (wt) + 16*b^2*w^4*cos^2( 2wt) ), which doesn't require calculus...
Homework Statement
An object with mass m undergoes simple harmonic motion, following 2 perpendicular directions, described by the equations:
x=a cos (wt), a>0,
y=b cos (2wt), b>0
a) find the equation of the trajectory
b) find the speed at any given time (so having t as a variable)
c) the...