Oscilloscopes

This practical lesson covers:

  1. How to find the frequency of a wave using an oscilloscope

Investigating wave behaviour using an oscilloscope


Aim:

To investigate the frequency of a sound wave using an oscilloscope. 

Background information:

Oscilloscopes can be used to visualise the behaviour of a wave. This practical lesson explains how to measure a wave's time-period using an oscilloscope's time-base setting. 

What is the purpose of the voltage-gain control on the oscilloscope?

to adjust the time-base

to adjust the value that each square represents in the vertical direction

to increase the voltage of the sound

to adjust the value that each square represents in the horizontal direction

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What is the purpose of the time-base control on the oscilloscope?

to adjust the value that each square represents in the vertical direction

to adjust the value that each square represents in the horizontal direction

to adjust the voltage-gain

to increase the time period of the wave

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An oscilloscope has a voltage gain setting of 2.5 V/div. A student counts the squares and identifies that a wave is 4 squares tall from the equilibrium line. What is the maximum voltage of the waveform?

10 V

2.5 V

0.63 V

1.6 V

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An oscilloscope screen has a screen which is 10 squares x 10 squares. A student is trying to view a waveform with a time period of 2 ms. Which of the following would be the most suitable time-base setting?

0.05 ms/div

10 s/div

1 s/div

0.5 ms/div

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A student is trying to observe a wave on an oscilloscope. The amplitude of the wave on the oscilloscope screen is very small. Which action should the student take?

decrease the voltage-gain setting

decrease the time-base setting

increase the voltage-gain setting

increase the time-base setting

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