User:Cristhian Carrillo/Notebook/Physics 307L/

Oscilloscope Lab

 * The purpose of this lab is to learn how to use an oscilloscope and a function generator.

Materials Needed

 * Oscilloscope
 * Function Generator
 * BNC Cable

Setting Up
I got an oscilloscope called Tektronix TDS 1002 and a function generator called wavetek. I got a BNC cable to connect the generators output to channel one of the ocilloscope. The output that I used for the wavetek generator is called 2vp-p. I then adjusted the frequency to 200Hz in the generator.

Measuring the Sine Wave
1) Counting Grid Lines   peak-peak voltage=6.01V, frequency=203.7Hz

2) Using Cursors  peak-peak voltage=6.00V, frequency=204.1Hz

3) Using Measure  peak-peak voltage=6.08V, frequency=203.7Hz


 * Counting grid lines to measure the voltages and frequencies was not too difficult but it was not very accurate for me. The cursors were easier to get better values.  When I finally used the measure option I found that the actual values were close to the values I measured using the cursors.

Triggering
I learned from Zane's lab book that "Triggering on a rising edge means that the graph stops according to when the graph reaches a rising voltage."

AC Coupling
Fall time=122.0ms with cursors, and 117.8 with measure

I had a hard time with understanding what AC coupling was and I had Katie help me with understanding what the difference is between AC and DC coupling. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to get an accurate measurement of the fall time. Therefore, I do not believe that my tao constant will be correct

The RC constant R*C=tao which was supposed to be equal to the falltime. I did not have enough time to get really comfortable with the AC coupling, therefore I did not get a very good value of the fall time. See the value above.