Physics307L:People/Frye/Oscilloscope
Oscilloscope Notebook
Oscilloscope Lab Summary
SJK 16:24, 24 September 2010 (EDT)
This is a good summary. The main thing missing is the numerical result with uncertainty and comparison to accepted values. This was a difficult thing with this o-scope lab, but in future labs it will be a key thing to include.
The point of this lab was to get familiar with the oscilloscope and to learn how to use open-wetware. We hooked up a function generator to an oscilloscope and used the oscilloscope to measure different characteristics of a sine wave output by the generator. We measured peak-to-peak voltage and period of some different waves using 3 different methods. We measured using the grid on the screen, the cursors on the oscilloscope, and the measure function. We found that the oscilloscope could not measure low frequency waves (less than about 10Hz)SJK 15:24, 24 September 2010 (EDT)
This is only true for AC coupling. With DC coupling, low frequency waves are no problem!
We also learned about triggering which is a method to make a wave function appear to stand still on the oscilloscope. This is done by triggering a reading by the scope when a certain criteria is met. For instance, when the voltage is rising and is at a set level a pulse is triggered. This starts the reading at the same point each time so that what appears on the screen does not move and can be measured. We also learned about about DC and AC coupling. When the oscilloscope is set to DC coupling both DC and AC signals are allowed through while AC coupling only shows the AC signal. We measured the fall time using the measure function and the cursors at some different frequencies. SJK 16:23, 24 September 2010 (EDT)
In future labs, you will need to report a numerical answer(s) along with quantitative estimate of uncertainty. Furthermore, you will compare with accepted values and discuss sources of random and systematic error.
Outside of the standard lab procedure we also hooked up another function generator to the second channel of the oscilloscope and played with the x-y function. We were able to make some interesting images on the scope my favorite of which looked like an eye opening and closing.
What I learned
I have not spent much time with an oscilloscope so I learned a lot about how it works as well as the different functions it performs and ways to measure waves. I also learned a whole lot about using the wiki as I have never used one before.
