The equation of motion for a simple harmonic oscillator is given by x(t) = A cos

The equation of motion for a simple harmonic oscillator is given by x(t) = A cos(ωt + φ). What does φ represent?

The equation of motion for a simple harmonic oscillator is given by x(t) = A cos(ωt + φ). What does φ represent?

Step 1: Understand the equation x(t) = A cos(ωt + φ).
Step 2: Identify the components of the equation: A is the amplitude, ω is the angular frequency, t is time, and φ is the phase constant.
Step 3: Recognize that the phase constant φ affects the starting point of the motion.
Step 4: Realize that different values of φ will shift the graph of the motion left or right.
Step 5: Conclude that φ represents the initial position of the oscillator at time t = 0.

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