Physics307L F08:People/Koch/Figuring out Oscilloscope

Links

 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscilloscope
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_time
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_time
 * Fourier series applet
 * Oscilloscope from ZTEC (Link from Lorenzo Trujillo)

First, measuring basics of a wave

 * 1) Hook up scope to measure a wave w/ BNC cables (do we want to use terminators?)
 * 2) Measure characteristics of a sine wave
 * 3) * Measure peak to peak voltage (thus amplitude) and measure the period (thus frequency)
 * 4) *# First, use the grid on the oscilloscope screen ("divisions" are the dotted lines)
 * 5) *# Next, use the cursors
 * 6) *# Finally, use the "measure" functions.

AC Coupling

 * Square wave, not pinning. 2.5 Hz, amplitude 8.6 +/- 0.1 V
 * Fall time using cursors:
 * 61 ms; w/ measure (60 +/- 0.5) ms
 * 62 ms
 * 61 ms
 * What RC constant does this imply, and what is the TDS 1002 supposed to be?
 * AC coupling mystery: Max DC offset, 2.5 Hz, max amplitude (so it's pinning at 13V): Ask students to explain what is going on.

FFT

 * 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

Other features

 * Display:Persist
 * Acquire:Average (average out noise)
 * Display:XY