The second hand of a clock is 4 inches long. Describe the height of the tip of the second hand from the bottom of a clock. (The radius of the clock is 1 inch more than the length of the second hand.)

Answer 1

The tip of the second hand travels on a 4" circle, inside a 5" circle. So, at t seconds into the minute, the tip of the second hand is at height

5+4cos(t/60 * 360)° = 5 + 4cos(6t)°

from the bottom of the clock.