Student Name Student ID Section Date

Abdulrahman alduwahi 401900683 113 30/3/2021

Sem : 422
Experiment 7
THE FUNCTION GENERATOR AND THE CATHODE RAY
OSCILLOSCOPE (CRO)
Objectives:

To understand the basic functions and key controls of a function generator and a Cathode Ray
Oscilloscope (CRO). That is, to measure the period, frequency, and amplitude of a periodic
waves using an oscilloscope

Apparatus:

Function generator, digital multimeter, CRO, connecting wires

Theory and Procedure:

Fig. 7.1 is a circuit diagram showing the function generator and the CRO. A digital multimeter
has been connected between them.

Fig. 7.1: Function generator and the CRO

The function generator is capable of generating several waveforms. To look at these press the
“WAVEFORM” button on the function generator. A list will appear on the screen of the
function generator. Scroll these alternative waveforms by turning the “VOLTAGE” dial. Select
the “Sine” waveform by pressing the “Push Select” button in the “VOLTAGE” dial.

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 Sem : 422

The CRO is a common device in Physics and Engineering laboratories. It produces a graph
voltage on the y-axis, or ordinate, versus time on the x-axis, or abscissa. A typical oscilloscope
is shown in Fig. 7.2.

Fig. 7.2: The cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO)

The CRO should be set up for you to show a sine-wave on the screen, similar to the wave in
Fig. 7.3. If the wave is not visible, try adjusting the ‘Intensity’ and ‘Focus’ dials on the front of
the CRO until a clear visible wave is seen. Do not adjust any of the other dials on the CRO
during this process. Inform your instructor if you are not able to see a sine wave.

Locate the ‘Vertical position’ and ‘Horizontal position’ dials and slowly turn them. You should
see the sine wave move vertically and horizontally. Adjust the two dials until the sine wave is
approximately in the same position as the wave in Fig. 7.3.

Fig. 7.3: Sine wave seen on the CRO screen

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 Sem : 422

Locate the ‘Vertical sensitivity’ dial. Turn the dial one click clockwise. The sine wave appears
to shrink. This is because the dial is the ordinate scale and is shown in Fig. 7.3 as ΔV. Try
turning the two or three clicks anticlockwise. The sine-wave appears to expand and may become
bigger than the CRO screen. Generally the Vertical sensitivity, ΔV is set so that the wave is as
big as possible, but not bigger than the screen.

Now locate the ‘Horizontal sensitivity’ dial. Try turning the dial one click clockwise. Again, the
sine-wave appears to shrink but this time in the horizontal direction. This is because the
‘Horizontal sensitivity’ setting is equal to the horizontal scale Δt. Investigate the effect of
turning the dial anticlockwise.

We will use the horizontal scale to measure the period T of the sine-wave. Return both
sensitivity dials to their original settings and use the ‘Vertical position’ and ‘Horizontal
position’ dials to move the wave so that both minima are on the horizontal axis of the CRO
screen. We repeat this procedure for the “Triangle”, “Positive Ramp” and “Negative Ramp”
waveforms. Ask your instructor to demonstrate this, if needed.

The period T is related to the frequency of the sine-wave by the relation T  1 f . Verify that
your value for T is correct by using this relation and comparing the answer with the value of f
(500 Hz) shown on the function generator.

Fig. 7.4: Sine wave seen on the CRO screen along with rms value.

All AC measuring systems like a digital multimeter measure the average value of the actual AC
signal value called the root mean square value. The root mean square of sinusoidal wave voltage
or 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 is used to determine the amount of power a sinusoidal signal wave is delivering. The
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 and 𝑉𝑝 are linked by the following equation:
𝑉𝑃
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = (1)
√2

𝑉 2 𝑟𝑚𝑠
In calculating power 𝑃 = using AC (sinusoidal) signal, the 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 is the affective voltage
𝑅
that is actually equivalent to 𝑉𝐷𝐶 that produces the same heat when applied to the same
resistance R. All AC meters measure the rms values of current and voltage. The wall outlets 120

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and 220 volts are indeed the rms of the peak values 170 and 311 volts, respectively. Fig. 7.4
shows how to measure the rms value of an AC signal.

Now set the frequency key of the function generator at 50kHz and choose a sine wave function.
Look at the wave on the oscilloscope. Adjust the signal by using the ‘Vertical sensitivity’ dial
and ‘Horizontal sensitivity’ dial keys. Increase the frequency to 150 KHz and see the change.
Set the frequency key again at 50KHz. Adjust the wave’s amplitude to a suitable value in the
signal waveform. This can be done by the “VOLTAGE” key in the function generator
(preferably chose 5V). Measure the 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 value of the voltage using digital multimeter.

Measure the period 𝑇, amplitude 𝑦𝑚 , and frequency 𝑓, and 𝑉𝑝 by counting the divisions on the
oscilloscope. Calculate the frequency ( 𝑓 = 1⁄𝑇 ) on the CRO and compare it to that on the
function generator. Record your data in Data Table.

Calculate the 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 value of the signal using equation (1) and compare to the value measured by
digital multimeter. Change the frequency to a value as shown in the table and repeat all the steps
and record your data in the table.

Laboratory Report (SCI 153 General Physics-II) I.D. No. Page 4

 Data:
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 5 𝑉
Frequency on Function No.of divisions Horizontal Time Period, 𝑇 =Ndiv,x× ∆t Calculated Frequency on % Error=(
𝑓𝐶𝑅𝑂 −𝑓𝑁
)× 100
between two minima sensitivity (sec) 1 𝑓𝑁
Generator ,𝑓𝑁 (kHz) CRO, 𝑓𝐶𝑅𝑂 = (kHz)
Ndiv,x(div) ∆t (µsec/div) 𝑇

50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
110.0
120.0

𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦, 𝑓 = 50𝐻𝑧
Voltage on No.of divisions Vertical Amplitude (Peak Calculated𝐶𝑎𝑙. Measured 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 on 𝐶𝑎𝑙.𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 −𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
% Error=( 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
)× 100
Function (bottom to top) sensitivity ∆𝑉 voltage) 𝑉𝑝 =
Ndiv,y
× ∆𝑉 Vp digital multimeter
Generator Ndiv, y(div) (volt/div) 2 Vrms  (volt)
(volt) 2 (volt)
(volt)

1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0

Revised Laboratory Manual (SCI 153 General Physics-II) April, 2016 I.D. No. Page 5
 Data analysis:

Calculate the %error among the values of frequency on the function generator and the
𝑓 −𝑓
corresponding value on CRO using the formula % 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = |𝑓𝐶𝑅𝑂 +𝑓𝐹𝑁 | × 100.
𝐶𝑅𝑂 𝐹𝑁
Also calculate the % error among 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 on the digital multimeter and the corresponding on the CRO
𝑉∗ −𝑉
by using the formula % 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = |𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
∗
𝑟𝑚𝑠
| × 100.
+𝑉 𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑟𝑚𝑠

Draw a graph of 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 measured on digital multimeter versus frequency on function generator to
check the response of 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 with changing frequency. Is this response almost constant?

Source of error:

The major source of error is in the No. of divisions between two minima (N div,x (div))

The minor source of error is in the horizontal sensitivity delta t

The major source of error is in the No of

divisions (bottom to top) N div y (div)

The minor source of error is in the vertical sensitivity delta V

Conclusion:
The average percentage of error in the first table was calculated to be 2.2255%

The average percentage of error in the second table was found to be 1.5355%

Laboratory Report (SCI 153 General Physics-II) I.D. No. Page 6