The Oscilloscope The Electron Gun The electron gun is used in televisions, computer screens and oscilloscopes.

LCD and plasma screens are starting to replace it but only after nearly 100 years. a.c. supply Hot metal emits electrons

Atoms in a hot metal emit electrons as they have high kinetic energy so some can escape the bonds between the molecules. This is called thermionic emission. Because the electrons are negatively charged they are attracted back to the metal they have escaped from, so nothing much happens unless they are in a circuit.

electrons a.c. Cathode 400V d.c.

The Cathode Ray Oscilloscopes Y-plates a.c. X-plates 400V d.c. Fluorescent screen

anode

The dotted line shows the beam of electrons. The X and Y plates control the movement of the beam. Y-plates make it move up and down and X-plates, side to side. In the diagram above the top Y-plate is positive so the electron beam moves up. The oscilloscope is used to plot instant graphs. The x-axis is controlled by the X-plates. This can move the dot across the screen. Initially the left hand side becomes positive and the dot is attracted to this side. + side - side

The right hand side becomes more and more positive and the dot moves across. - side +side

The X control is called the time base. When it goes quickly a straight line is produced.

Each cm square can represent 0.2 S (microseconds -millionths of a second) to 0.5 seconds.

At the same time the Y-plates are connected to an external input. This moves the dot up and down. + plate - plate

- plate + plate If this moves quickly it produces a vertical line and together with the time base produces a graph plot.

Y-plates only Reading the Oscilloscope

Both Y-plates and time base together 28.03.07

The oscilloscope is like an automatic graph plotter. The scale for each axis is on the controls. You must read the scale off the time-base knob to see. Each cm square on the y-axis can represent from 5 millivolts to 5 volts. You must read the scale off the voltage-gain knob to see. Example

If the time-base is set to 100mS/cm and the voltage-gain is set to 2V/cm, find the frequency and peak voltage of the wave. Time for one wave is 6cm. Time = 6 x 100ms = 600ms = 0.6s Frequency = 1 = 1 = 1.67 Hz Time Period 0.6 Amplitude = 1.5cm. Voltage = 1.5 x 2 = 3V Example 2

If the time-base is set to 0.5S/cm and the voltage-gain is set to 100mV/cm, find the frequency and peak voltage of the wave. Time for one wave is 6cm. Time = 6 x 0.5s = 3s Frequency = 1 . = 1 = 0.33 Hz Time Period 3 Amplitude = 1.5cm. Voltage = 1.5 x 100 = 150mV Answer p245, Q 1-3