Physics307L F09:Labs/Oscilloscope

Assignment

 * 1) Go through the lab outlined below
 * 2) Take good notes in your wiki lab notebook! Save often.  If your login expires, don't panic, you should be able to push "back" and get the data.
 * 3) * Example of good lab notebook: Zane's notebook entry from 2007
 * 4) Write up the Lab Summary (as outlined at the end of this page)
 * 5) * Example of good lab summary: Antonio's summary from 2007

Goals

 * 1) Become familiar with operation of digital oscilloscope
 * 2) * By the end of the lab, if Koch or Rathi come over and monkey with your oscilloscope settings and connections, you will be able to fix everything.
 * 3) * Explain the difference between AC and DC coupling
 * 4) * Explain how triggering works
 * 5) * (This is now optional) Explain what FFT is and demonstrate use of oscilloscope FFT
 * 6) Measure the time constant of the oscilloscope AC coupling
 * 7) * Obtain a value for the fall time with error bars
 * 8) Become adept at using wiki lab notebook
 * 9) * Koch or Rathi should be able to read your lab notebook and figure out what you did during the lab period
 * 10) * Raw data (for example fall time measurements) recorded in notebook
 * 11) Practice for "real labs" in the future
 * 12) * Orally defend knowledge of oscilloscope
 * 13) * Prepare informal lab summary
 * 14) * You will receive a grade (that doesn't count in overall course grade)

Background reading
Read some of the Wikipedia article on oscilloscopes Notes:
 * Section 1 is good background.
 * We are using digital oscilloscope (referred to as DSOs in the article)
 * You don't have to memorize this, but you can refer back to it when you have questions or are summarizing.

Other reading: Oscilloscope tutorial

Basic waveform measurement
Remember to record everything in your wiki lab notebook!
 * 1) Hook up the output of the function generator to the oscilloscope
 * 2) * Set the function generator to output a sine wave. Say 200 Hz maybe, or pick your frequency.
 * 3) * Use BNC cables (why are they called BNC cables?)
 * 4) * Should you use a T connector and a terminator?
 * 5) Fiddle with the oscilloscope settings so you can see the sine wave on the screen.
 * 6) Measure characteristics of a sine wave
 * 7) * Measure peak to peak voltage (thus amplitude) and measure the period (thus frequency)
 * 8) *# First, use the grid on the oscilloscope screen ("divisions" are the dotted lines)
 * 9) *# Next, use the cursors
 * 10) *# Finally, use the "measure" functions.
 * 11) * Repeat this for a few different waves: Very large amplitude; very low amplitdue; large DC offset
 * 12) ** Are there waveforms that the oscilloscope cannot measure properly?

Triggering

 * 1) Re-read Wikipedia section about triggering
 * 2) Common way to trigger is on a rising edge (what does this mean?).  What happens to the signal when you use different triggers?  Be able to explain this orally.

AC Coupling
This is a tricky concept at first!
 * 1) This Wikipedia article on capacitive coupling isn't too helpful
 * 2) * Paul K. found a link on National Instruments that is good. And another good link
 * 3) Apply a large DC voltage to the oscilloscope input (we'll have to figure out how to do this).  Compare DC coupling with AC coupling.    You may need to adjust the triggering.  Which mode is better for viewing any "ripple" on the DC voltage?
 * 4) [[Image:Oscilloscope_fall_time.jpg|right|thumb|Using rising part of square wave to measure fall time]]Measure the fall time of the AC coupling
 * 5) * Function generator: Square wave; zero DC offset; amplitude about 8.6 V
 * 6) * Use cursors to measure fall time (peak to 10% value)
 * 7) * Use "measure" function to measure fall time
 * 8) What RC constant does this imply? (See Wikipedia article on rise time)
 * 9) How does this compare with the expected value for the oscilloscope? (Can you find the answer on Google?)

FFT (Optional)

 * 1) Find the frequency of a sine wave using FFT "Math" function
 * 2) Look at the harmonics in triangle and square wave
 * 3) Compare with what you see on this applet: Fourier series applet
 * 4) Be able to explain what is going on with an FFT and when it may be useful

Other (Optional)

 * 1) Play with XY mode to make some fun patterns
 * 2) Build your own low or high pass filter using resistors, capacitors and breadboard.
 * 3) Download waveform using LabVIEW (C:\Documents and Settings\USER\My Documents\308L\TDS1002 Folder\TDS1002.vi)

Summary
On your lab page (e.g. Physics307L_F09:People/YourName) create a new heading, ==Oscilloscope Lab Summary== Under that heading (or on a sub-page if you want), include the following information
 * 1) Brief summary of what you did (linking to the lab manual page is OK)
 * 2) Add links to all wiki pages that contain your notebook entries.  This is likely only one page.
 * 3) Report your value for the fall time using AC coupling.
 * 4) * Include uncertainty in your measurement!
 * 5) * Explain how you measured this (briefly)
 * 6) What did you learn?
 * 7) * It's OK if you didn't learn anything. But include things you are still finding confusing.
 * 8) What did you explore outside of the standard lab procedure?  Anything interesting?
 * 9) What could make the lab better next year?