Physics Home > Teaching Labs > Electricity & Magnetism > Oscilloscope

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Points of Emphasis

Prerequisites

Lab Activities

Gives a thorough introduction to the use of an oscilloscope. Topics covered include trigger signal level, trigger slope, external triggering vs internal triggering, triggering source, magnification, auto calibration vs manual calibration, display modes, time measurement, voltage measurement, phase difference measurement (direct and using lissajous figures), etc. Writeups are available for both the Gould scopes and the HP 1200A scopes.

Also covered is the use of a signal generator and lissajous figures. For the signal generator, the topics covered are amplitude control, minimum-maximum amplitude range, frequency selection and range, and output selection. For the lissajous figures, the affect on the display of the relative frequencies, amplitudes and phase difference of the two signals is covered. Evaluation of the students is done by a quiz given before the students leave the lab. The quiz must be taken individually and consists of the measurement of a period, a peak-to-peak voltage and a phase difference. Students must get a 100% on the quiz before being allowed to leave the lab and receive credit for the lab.

Course Level

Introductory: P4, P14, P16

Student Handouts

Equipment

Number of set-ups available: 20 Per lab station: 1 oscilloscope 1 function generator 1 frequency counter 1 multimeter 1 microphone 1 30 V DC power supply 1 10:1 probe 2 BNC cables 1 2 meter cable with banana leads on both ends 2 BNC -> banana (female) adaptors 6 banana leads

Notes

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