EXPERIMENT NO.

1
OSCILLOSCOPE AND FUNCTION GENERATOR OPERATION

OBJECTIVE:

To become familiar with the operation and use of the oscilloscope and function
generator.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

1 Oscilloscope with Test Probes

1 Digital Multimeter
1 Power Supply
1 Function Generator
1 Breadboard
1 Long-Nose Pliers
1 Cutter Pliers

THEORY

 The oscilloscope is the most important instrument available to a practicing

technician or engineer.

 It permits the visual display of a signal that can reveal a range of

information regarding the operating characteristics of a circuit or system
that is not available with a standard multimeter.

 At first, glance the instrument may appear complex and difficult to master.

Be assured, however, that once the function of each section of the

oscilloscope is explained and understood and the system is used
throughout a set of experiments, your expertise with this important tool
will develop quite rapidly.

 In addition to the display of signals, it can also be used to measure the

average value, rms value, frequency and period of a sinusoidal or non-
sinusoidal signal.

 The screen is divided into centimeter divisions in the vertical and

horizontal directions.

The vertical sensitivity is provided (or set) in volts/cm, while the

horizontal scale is provided (or set) in t time (s/cm).

ECE Department Oscilloscope and Function Gen. Operation Page 1

Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 If a particular signal occupies 6 vertical cm and the vertical sensitivity is 5
mV/cm, the magnitude of the signal can be determined from the following
equation;

VS = SV ( NV )
where:
VS = signal voltage in Vpp
SV = vertical sensitivity
NV = number of vertical divisions

VS = (5 mV/div) (6 div)
= 30 mV

 If one cycle of the same signal occupies 8 div on the horizontal scale with
a horizontal sensitivity of 5 µs/div, the period and frequency of the signal
can be determined using the following equations:

T = SH ( NH )
where:
T = period of waveform
SH = horizontal sensitivity
NH = number of horizontal divisions

Therefore:

T = (5 µs/div) (8 div) = 40 µs

1 1
and f = t  40 µs = 25 kHz

 The function generator is a supply that typically provides a sinusoidal,

square-wave, and triangular waveform for a range of frequencies and
amplitudes.

 Although the frequency of the function generator can be set by the dial
position and appropriate multiplier, the oscilloscope can be used to
precisely set the output frequency.

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
  The scope can also be used to set the amplitude of the function generator,
since most function generators simply have an amplitude control with no
level indicators.

VS = VM Sin wt

where:
VS = signal output in Vpp
VM = amplitude of the signal voltage in Vpp
w = angular freq. of the signal voltage
f = linear freq. of the signal voltage
t = instantaneous time in seconds

VM = Vpeak = ½ Vpp

Vp-p = 2 Vp

Veff= Vrms = Vp / 2

Vdc = Vave = Vp / Π

 Both the scope and function generator are built to withstand some abuse,
so do not be afraid to try various combinations of dial settings to fully
develop your abilities with this lab experiment.

 In addition, if you are working in a group, do not let one person perform
all the experimental work.

 You must spend time in the laboratory, so why not learn how to use the
equipment properly and develop the skills that you will need.

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
PROCEDURE

Part 1. The Oscilloscope

The instructor will provide a brief description of the various sections of

the oscilloscope and function generator.

In your own words, describe the function and use of each of the following
controls or sections of the oscilloscope.

a) Focus:
______________________________________________________
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b) Intensity:
______________________________________________________
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c) Vertical and horizontal position controls:

______________________________________________________
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d) Vertical sensitivity:
______________________________________________________
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e) Horizontal sensitivity:
______________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________

f) Vertical mode selection:

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

g) AC-GND-DC switch:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 h) Beam finder:
______________________________________________________
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i) Calibrate switches:
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j) Probe:
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Part 2. The Function Generator

a) Turn on the oscilloscope and adjust the necessary controls to

establish a clear, bright, horizontal line across the center of the
screen.

Do not be afraid to adjust the various controls to see their effects

on display.

b) Connect the function generator to the channel 1 of the oscilloscope

and set the output of the generator to a 1 kHz sinusoidal waveform.

c) Set the vertical sensitivity of the scope to 1 V/div and adjust the
amplitude control of the function generator to establish a 4 V peak-
to-peak (p-p) sinusoidal waveform on the screen.

Horizontal Sensitivity

d) Determine the period of the 1 kHz sinusoidal waveform in ms

using the equation T = 1/f.

(Calculated) T = __________mS.

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 e) Set the horizontal sensitivity of the scope to 0.2 ms/div. Using the
results of Part 2(d), calculate and predict the number of horizontal
divisions required to properly display one full cycle of the 1 kHz
signal. Draw the theoritical wave form in Figure 1.1

(Calculated) Number of divisions = __________

Figure 1.1

Using the oscilloscope, determine the number of divisions that the

signal occupies and write the obtained data below.

(Measured) Number of divisions = ___________

How does the result compare to the calculated number of

divisions?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 f) Change the horizontal sensitivity of the oscilloscope to 0.5-ms/div
without touching any of the controls of the function generator.
Using the results of Part 2(d), how many horizontal divisions will
now be required to display one full cycle of the 1kH signal? Draw
the theoritical waveform in Figure 1.2

(Calculated) Number of divisions = ___________

Figure 1.2

Using the oscilloscope, determine the number of divisions that the

signal occupies and write the obtained data below.

(Measured) Number of divisions = ___________

How does the result compare to the calculated number of divisions?

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 g) Change the horizontal sensitivity of' the oscilloscope to 1 ms./ cm
without touching any of the controls of the function generator.
Using the results of Part 2(d), how many horizontal divisions will
now be required to display one full cycle of the 1kHz signal?
Draw the theoritical wave form in Figure 1.3

(Calculated) Number of divisions = ___________

Figure 1.3

Using the oscilloscope, determine the number of divisions that the

signal occupies and write the obtained data below.

(Measured) Number of divisions = ___________

How does the result compare to the calculated number of divisions?

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 h) What was the effect on the appearance of the sinusoidal waveform
as the horizontal sensitivity was changed from 0.2 ms/cm to 0.5
ms/cm and finally to 1 ms/cm?

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Did the frequency of the signal on the screen change with each
horizontal sensitivity?

(Yes/No) __________.

What conclusion can you draw from the results regarding the effect
of the chosen horizontal sensitivity on the signal output of the
function generator?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Vertical Sensitivity

i) Do not touch the controls of the function generator but return the
sensitivity of the scope to 0.2 ms/cm and change the vertical
sensitivity to 2 V/cm.

Using this sensitivity, calculate the peak-to-peak value of the

sinusoidal waveform on the screen by first counting the number of
vertical divisions between peak values and multiplying by the
sensitivity.

(Calculated) Peak-to-peak value = _________

j) Change the vertical sensitivity of the oscilloscope to 0.5 V/cm and

repeat part 2(i),

(Calculated) Peak-to-peak value = _________

k) What was the effect on appearance of the sinusoidal waveform as

the vertical sensitivity was changed from 2 V/cm to 0.5 V/cm?
______________________________________________________
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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 Did the peak-to-peak voltage of the sinusoidal signal change with
each vertical sensitivity?

(Yes/No) __________.

What conclusion can you draw from the results regarding the effect
of changing the vertical sensitivity on the output signal of the
function generator?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

l) Can the peak-to-peak output voltage of a function generator be set

without the aid of an auxiliary instrument such as an oscilloscope
or DMM? EXPLAIN.
______________________________________________________
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Part 3. Effect of DC levels

a) Establish a 5kHz 6Vp-p sinusoidal waveform on the screen.

Calculate the effective value of the sinusoidal waveform.

(Calculated) Vrms = ________

b) Disconnect the function generator from the scope and measure the
effective (rms) value of the output of the function generator using
the digital meter.
(Measured) Vrms = ________

c) Determine the magnitude of the percent difference between the

calculated and measured levels using the following equation:

Vcalc  Vmeas
% Difference   100%
Vcalc

% Difference = ________

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 d) Reconnect the function generator to the scope with 5 kHz 6 Vp-p
signal and switch the AC-GND-DC coupling switch of the vertical
channel to GND. What is the effect?
______________________________________________________
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Why? How can this scope function be used?

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
e) Now, move the AC-GND-DC coupling switch to the AC position.
What is the effect on the screen display? Why?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

f) Finally, move the AC-GND-DC coupling switch to the DC

position. What is the effect on the screen display (if any)? Why?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

g) Construct the input of Vi of Figure 1.4 by placing DC power

supply with the output of the function generator.

Be sure the ground of the oscilloscope is connected directly to the

ground of the function generator.

Measure and record the actual battery voltage using the DC mode
of the DMM.
(Measured) DC level = ________

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 1.5V
+
Power
0V 1.5V
Supply
-

+2V Function 4VP-P

Gen. 1kHz
0V

-2V

Figure 1-4

h) Apply the input voltage Vi of Figure. 1.4 to one channel of the

oscilloscope with the AC-GND-DC coupling switch in the GND
position and set the resulting horizontal line (zero references level)
in the middle of the screen.

Then, move the AC-GND-DC coupling switch to AC position and

make a rough sketch of the waveform on Figure1.5 clearly
showing the zero reference line and the number of vertical and
horizontal divisions.

Using the chosen sensitivities, label the magnitudes of the various

horizontal and vertical grid lines.

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 Figure 1.5

i) Switch the position of the AC – GND – DC coupling switch to the

DC mode and make a rough sketch of the resulting waveform on
Fig. 1.6 including the detail requested in part 4(b)

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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0
 Figure 1.6

Did the vertical shift of the sinusoidal waveform equal the DC

voltage of the DC power supply?

(Yes/No) ________.

Does moving the AC-GND-DC coupling switch through the

various positions change the shape of the sinusoidal waveform?

(Yes/No) ________.

j) Reverse the polarity of the DC power supply of Figure 1.4 and

repeat parts 4(h) and (i). Observe the effect on the waveform in the
AC and DC modes.
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Expt 1 Last Date Modified: 05/16/12
Version: 2.0