Oscilloscope

Purpose:  We take a look at the applications of the oscilloscope. With the oscilloscope, we are able to see how the voltage behaves. We are also about to generate various waves and interpret them

The Cathode Ray Tube

We get a look at a cathode ray tube before we begin using the oscilloscopes. A beam is shot from the inside of the tube and it is moved by the electric field. The electric field applies a force on the beam which causes it shift accordingly.

The Oscilloscope And Voltage

The image shows what the reading of voltage is prior to any voltage put it. We can see that it is at the center of the screen, which we say is our zero voltage.

 After, a voltage is put into the oscilloscope and this cause a shift on the vertical line which in this cane indicates our voltage.

Professor Mason goes over the kind of noise that we can get that can be found on top of a DC power supply. The power supply causes a shift of the horizontal line  in the vertical direction. The noise is a variation of the voltage on top of the voltage the power supply says it would put out.

Our board displays a before and after of the power reading from the oscilloscope. We show that the beam is projected with a horizontal velocity and shift upward due to a electric field by the plates located on top and on the bottom.

Setting Up The Function Generator With A Speaker

We connect the function generator to a speaker so and mess with the frequencies to see what kind of noises we hear. We also switch the types of wave outputted by the function generator. We found that these switches effect the sound.

Connecting A Function Generator To An Oscilloscope

We now play with the controls and see how they affect the oscilloscope. Altering the oscilloscope, we can see if voltage is constant or whether it alternates.

Measuring The Change In Voltage

For DC power supplies, we see that we get a constant voltage and the magnitude of this voltage is seen on the oscilloscope when the horizontal line changes position.

Changing The Frequency Signal Of Two Clean Power Supplies

We connect the oscilloscope to two clean power supplies. These supplies create a nice picture when we tinker with the frequency. The shape on the oscilloscope becomes dependent on the two frequencies of the horizontal and vertical axis. 

Summary Of The Oscilloscope

Mystery Box

The image shows some of data collected from the mystery box. Using this data, we interpret what each color does.

Conclusion:  We find that the oscilloscope does a great job in determining the behavior of voltage on a power supply. Using the visual representations on the oscilloscope, we are able to make conclusions on whether a power supply is a DC or AC supply. We are also able to determine whether a DC power supply truly outputs what it says by checking on the oscilloscope for noise.