SFL 1013 – TECHNIQUES IN PHYSICS LABORATORY (E212) (GROUP E)

LABORATORY 3 : OSCILLOSCOPE

TITLE:

AMALI L2 OSCILLOSCOPE

LECTURER’S NAME:

PUAN MAHIZAH BINTI

ISMAIL PREPARED BY:

NAME: MATRICS NUMBER:

TIFEENLY PAYA JOHNNY E20211027481
ERNI NADIA FARIZA A/P BAH ENCHU E20211027580

1
INTRODUCTION

Oscilloscopes are an important measuring equipment in physics laboratories.

Oscilloscopes are also used to display, record, and analyze voltage waveforms. In the lab
report, we will use a virtual oscilloscope that has been provided by our lecturer. In addition,
we will learn the basic functions of an oscilloscope and learn some important concepts and
parameters of an oscilloscope. With this knowledge, indirectly it will be able to help us to
gain a better understanding of how to use an oscilloscope, how it is commonly used, and
the concepts of sampling rate, bandwidth, triggers, and so on.

Figure 5 – Basic layout of a digital oscilloscope

L2.5. PART A: OSCILLOSCOPE CONTROLS

1. The sketch of the front fascia of an oscilloscope and its

individual control knobs is shown in Figure 5.

2. Explain the function of each individual controls in Table 1.

Table 1 – Controls on an oscilloscope

LABEL FUNCTION
1 Show the signal amplitude, or voltage, is displayed
on the vertical on the axis of the screen, while the
horizontal axis represents the time sweep.
2 To turn the oscilloscope on or off. If we turn on this
switch, the LED next to the switch will light up.
3 This switch capable of plotting one or two signals
simultaneously and features two independent input
channels, one channel for each trace. Each of which
 has its own connectors and controls. Use the
vertical position controls to adjust channel 1 or 2
waveform to be displayed in the screen.
4 The “Volts/Div.” wheels amplify an input signal so
that a division represents a certain voltage. A
“division” is the distance between two lines of a
square on the oscilloscope’s screen.The bigger
wheel is used for a coarse adjustment to calibrated
values. To obtain calibrated values, the smaller
wheel must be set to its leftmost position.Using the
smaller wheel located on top of the big wheel a fine
adjustment can be made. The small wheel however
is calibrated for its leftmost position only.
5 The “Time/Div.” wheel determines, how long the
electronic beam that draws the curve takes for
moving from the left to the right edge of a division.
The wheel controls the “time scale”. A “division” is
one square on the screen of the oscilloscope
6 Oscilloscope bandwidth is defined as the frequency
at which the amplitude of the observed signal drops
by -3 dB (or drops to 70.7% of its actual value) as
we increase the test signal's frequency as plotted on
the amplitude-frequency characteristic curve
7 Adjust the brightness of the trace until you can just
see all the details of the waveform. If the trace is
too bright you will not get the best data, your eyes
will get very tired, and you could damage the
scope.
8 The horizontal position control 'X-POS.' enable the
channel's waveform(s) to be adjusted from left and
right on the display.If the X-MAG x10 button is
depressed, the time base of the channels will be
displayed with a magnification of ten. This needs to
be taken into account when interpreting the
oscilloscope display.
9 Determines the vertical image offset of both
channels independently.
10 Determines the vertical image offset of both
channels independently.

L2.6. Part B : Calibration & Measurement

1. Refer to Figure 8, what are the value of the following physical quantities-voltage peak to peak, Vpp and period, T?

Vpp =
T=

2. Adjust the control setting of volt/DIV to 0.5 V and time/DIV to 0.5 ms. The monitor of
your oscilloscope will change according to the new setting. Copy and paste the changes of the
oscilloscope and other devices from the simulation software.
5. Based on the simulated picture as in Step 4, what are the value of the following physical quantities?

Vpp = _______________± _________________

T = _______________± __________________

6. Compare with your result in Step 5 and Step 3. What is the conclusion?

Activity 1: Signal Generator (Controlling the Frequency of the Signal)

1. Control the frequency button of the signal generator that is connected to Channel 1
until the frequency is approximately 2.3 kHz. The voltage remains at 1 V. The monitor of your
oscilloscope will change according to the new frequency. Copy and paste the changes of the
oscilloscope and all other devices from the simulation software. The setting of your oscilloscope
remains as in Step 4 of previous section (Section: Calibration and Measurement): volt/DIV = 0.5
 V/Div and time/DIV = 0.5 ms/Div

2. Adjust the time/Div button, until you are able to calculate your signal (1 wave £ signal
£ 2 waves). After you have found the suitable signal, stop adjusting the time/Div button. Record
your new setting for time/div.

time\Div = ___________

Then, Copy and paste the changes of the oscilloscope and all other devices from the simulation
software.