A technician prepares to use an oscilloscope to display an AC voltage signal.

After
turning the oscilloscope on and connecting the Y input probe to the signal source test
points, this display appears:

What display control(s) need to be adjusted on the oscilloscope in order to show

fewer cycles of this signal on the screen, with a greater height (amplitude)?
Hide answer

The “timebase” control needs to be adjusted for fewer seconds per division, while the
“vertical” control needs to be adjusted for fewer volts per division.

Notes:

Discuss the function of both these controls with your students. If possible,
demonstrate this scenario using a real oscilloscope and function generator, and have
students adjust the controls to get the waveform to display optimally. Challenge your
students to think of ways the signal source (function generator) may be adjusted to
produce the display, then have them think of ways the oscilloscope controls could be
adjusted to fit.

A technician prepares to use an oscilloscope to display an AC voltage signal. After

turning the oscilloscope on and connecting the Y input probe to the signal source test
points, this display appears:
What display control(s) need to be adjusted on the oscilloscope in order to show a
normal-looking wave on the screen?

The “vertical” control needs to be adjusted for a greater number of volts per division.

Notes:

Discuss the function of both these controls with your students. If possible,
demonstrate this scenario using a real oscilloscope and function generator, and have
students adjust the controls to get the waveform to display optimally. Challenge your
students to think of ways the signal source (function generator) may be adjusted to
produce the display, then have them think of ways the oscilloscope controls could be
adjusted to fit.
Question 9
Determine the frequency of this waveform, as displayed by an oscilloscope with a
vertical sensitivity of 2 volts per division and a timebase of 0.5 milliseconds per
division:

Hide answer

400 Hz

Notes:

This is just a straightforward exercise in determining period and translating that value
into frequency.

Assuming the vertical sensitivity control is set to 0.5 volts per division, and the
timebase control is set to 2.5 ms per division, calculate the amplitude of this sine
wave (in volts peak, volts peak-to-peak, and volts RMS) as well as its frequency.
Hide answer

Epeak = 2.25 V
Epeak−to−peak = 4.50 V
ERMS = 1.59 V
f = 40 Hz
Question 1
(a) An oscilloscope is connected across a battery as shown in the diagram.

The time base of the oscilloscope is switched off throughout the experiment.

Initially the switch S is open. Under these conditions the spot on the oscilloscope
screen is at position A.

Switch S is now closed. The spot moves to B. The voltage gain setting of the
oscilloscope is 0.50 V /division.
(i) What does an oscilloscope measure? Potential difference (voltage) as it varies
with time.
(1 mark)
(ii) What value does the movement of the spot from A to B represent?
3.5 divisions (1 mark)
represents 3.5 x 0.5 = 1.75 V (1 mark for answer 1 mark for unit)
(3 marks)
(iii) Given that:
Potential difference (volts) = current (amps) x resistance (ohms)
calculate the current that is flowing through the resistor.
current = V/R (1 mark)
= 1.75/14
= 0.125 A (2 marks - 1 for answer - 1 for unit)
(3 marks)
(b) The time base is now switched on. What would you see on the screen:
(i) When switch S was open A horizontal line (1 mark) through where spot A
used to be. (1 mark)
(ii) When switch S was closed. A horizontal line through where spot B used to
be. (1 mark)
(3 marks)
(c) The oscilloscope is disconnected from the battery and connected across a mains
voltage supply - an alternating voltage source of rms value 230 V and peak value of
330V.
(i) Sketch the grid on the right and
draw what you would expect to see on
the oscilloscope screen, if the time
base is switched off and the voltage
sensitivity is altered to 100 V /div.
Line goes peak to peak (twice
amplitude = 660V) = 6.6 divisions
vertical line gets one mark -
centred on the mid line (1 mark)
6.6 divisions in length (3rd mark)
(3 marks)
(ii) Describe what you would see on
the screen if the timebase was then switched on.
A sinusoidal curve (you could sketch the shape).
The peak would be where the tips of the line were
 (2 marks)
(Total 15 marks)

Question 2
An alternating current (a.c.) source is connected
to a 12 W resistor to form a complete circuit. The
trace obtained on an oscilloscope connected
across the resistor is shown.
The oscilloscope settings are:
Y sensitivity 4.0 mV per division and
time base 2.0 s per division.

(a)
(i) Determine the peak to peak voltage of the a.c.
source
Peak to peak is 4 divisions (1 mark)
= 4.0 mV x 4 = 16 mV (1 mark for the answer and 1 mark for the unit)
(3 marks)
(ii) Hence determine the peak voltage. (1 mark)
Peak voltage is half of peak to peak - therefore it is 8 mV
(iii) Determine the time period of the a.c. signal.
4 divisions (1 mark) represents 4 x 2.0s = 8.0 s (1 mark for number - 1 for
unit)
(3 marks)
(iv) Hence calculate the frequency of the a.c. signal. (3 marks)
f = 1/T ( 1 mark) = 1/8.0 = 0.125 Hz 1 mark for number - 1 for unit)
(3 marks)
(b) Given that:

Peak Voltage (volts) = Peak Current (amps) x resistance (ohms)

calculate the peak current that is flowing through the resistor. (3 marks)
peak current = peak voltage/resistance (1 mark)
= 0.008/14
= 0.57mA (2 marks - 1 for answer - 1 for unit)