What is a Oscilloscope?

Oscilloscopes translate an electronic signal into a pattern or waveform on a

screen. As it is traced across the screen, the waveform creates a signature of the
signal's characteristics. Specifications for oscilloscopes include bandwidth,
number of input channels, number of trigger inputs, and resolution. Bandwidth is
the frequency range over which oscilloscopes meet their accuracy specifications.
Accuracy degrades at lower and lower frequencies unless the oscilloscope is
capable of direct current (DC) response. Accuracy also degrades at higher
frequencies near resonance and beyond, causing the output response to roll off.
The number of input channels is the number of possible, simultaneous signal
measurements.

Oscilloscopes provide many different features. Some devices have a relay or

switch output for limit detection or other state signalling. Others are powered by a
replaceable or rechargeable battery, or are designed to be used while held in one
hand. Oscilloscopes that are rated for high-power applications can monitor
and/or display currents and voltages associated with electrical power or high-
power switching.What is a Oscilloscope?Typically, these currents and voltages
are much higher that standard sensor signal levels. In terms of storage capacity,
oscilloscopes can include a hard drive, nonvolatile memory, or on-board random
access memory (RAM). Removable storage media devices such as tapes,
diskettes, and PCMCIA cards are also available.

Although most people think of an oscilloscope as a self-contained instrument in a

box, a new type of "oscilloscope" is emerging that consists of an external
analogue-to-digital converter (sometimes with its own memory and perhaps even
some data-processing ability) connected to a PC that provides the display,
control interface, disc storage, networking and often the electrical power. The
viability of these so-called PC-based oscilloscopes depends on the current
widespread use and low cost of standardised PCs. This makes the instruments
particularly suitable for the educational market, where PCs are commonplace but
equipment budgets are often low.

The advantages of PC-based oscilloscopes include:

Lower cost (assuming the user already owns a PC).
Easy exporting of data to standard PC software such as spreadsheets and word
processors.
Ability to control the instrument by running a custom program on the PC.
Use of the PC's networking and disc storage functions, which cost extra when
added to a self-contained oscilloscope.
PC's typically have larger and higher resolution color displays which can be
easier to read. Color can be utilized to diffentiate waveforms. It can also show
increased information including more of the waveform or extras like automatic
waveform measurements and simultaneous alternative views.
Easier portability when used with a laptop PC.
There are also some disadvantages, which include:
Need for the owner to install oscilloscope software on the PC.
Time taken for the PC to boot, compared with the almost instant start-up of a
self-contained oscilloscope (although, as some modern oscilloscopes are
actually PCs or similar machines in disguise, this distinction is narrowing).
Reduced portability when used with a desktop PC.
Inconvenience of using part of the PC's screen for the oscilloscope display.
The distinction is becoming increasingly blurred, however, as mainstream
oscilloscope vendors such as Tektronix convert their product line over to large-
screen, PC-based oscilloscopes as well, albeit PCs equipped with very fast
(multi-GHz) input digitizers and highly-customized human interfaces.

What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the engineering of tiny machines - the projected ability to build
things from the bottom up inside personal nanofactories (PNs), using techniques
and tools being developed today to make complete, highly advanced products.
Ultimately, nanotechnology will enable control of matter at the nanometer scale,
using mechanochemistry. Shortly after this envisioned molecular machinery is
created, it will result in a manufacturing revolution, probably causing severe
disruption. It also has serious economic, social, environmental, and military
implications.

A nanometer is one billionth of a meter, roughly the width of three or four atoms.
The average human hair is about 25,000 nanometers wide.

Unfortunately, conflicting definitions of nanotechnology and blurry distinctions

between two significantly different fields have complicated the effort to
understand the differences and develop sensible, effective policy.
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 The risks of today's nanoscale technologies (nanoparticle toxicity, etc.)
cannot be treated the same as the risks of longer-term molecular manufacturing
(economic disruption, unstable arms race, etc.). It is a mistake to put them
together in one basket for policy consideration-each is important to address, but
they offer different problems and will require different solutions.

Nanotechnology is often referred to as a general-purpose technology. That's

because in its advanced form it will have significant impact on almost all
industries and all areas of society. It offers better built, longer lasting, cleaner,
safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for
transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general

What are Electric Transformers?

In AC electrical systems, electric transformers convert voltage from one value to
another. Transformers are comprised of two sets of coils or windings linked by a
magnetic field. The coils are primary and secondary and function as conductors.
When the primary coil receives AC voltage, this produces a varying magnetic
field of voltage surrounding the conductor. The primary coil is responding to the
fluctuating current of AC voltage. The magnetic field activates the secondary
conductor coil. This results in the transformer changing the voltage and
transferring electrical energy, ideally with the least amount of energy loss. The
number of windings on each coil is important as this determines the voltage that
is conveyed from the primary to the secondary through the magnetic field. The
number of windings or turns in the primary coil to the number of turns in the
secondary coil determines the magnitude of the voltage. The core is typically iron
as this produces the most efficient magnetic coil. Once the voltage conversion is
made, the energy is transferred to the load center and the electrical process
continues from there.What are Electric Transformers?Transformers can also
serve to isolate parts of circuits from others. Electric transformers can be as large
as the ones we see around powerlines or small enough to be tucked away in
household appliances. Transformers can also serve to convert as power
adapters in situations where there is a voltage difference between an electronic
component or appliance and an electrical power supply. There is a need in AC
electrical systems to continuously increase or lower the voltage levels for
efficiency and safety. Transformers provide for this need marvelously since their
operation is based on the fluctuating current of AC voltage.

The incoming transformer voltage is an important factor. The three common

frequencies available are 50 Hz, 60Hz and 400 Hz. European power is typically
50 Hz while North American power is usually 60hz. The 400 Hz is reserved for
high-powered applications such as aerospace technologies. It is also important to
consider the secondary power specifications when evaluating transformers.
Other specifications to keep in mind when selecting a transformer are: the
maximum ratings of the following: secondary current and voltage rating, power
and output rating. Power transformers have various configurations according to
phase and connections. The most common phases are single-phase and three-
phase. Both the size and expense of a transformer increases in proportion to the
number of primary windings.