EEE223 CIRCUIT ANALYSIS LABORATORY-1
EXPERIMENT 2
OSCILLOSCOPE
1. PURPOSE OF EXPERIMENT
In this experiment, it is aimed to understand the working principle of the oscilloscope, how the triggering and
synchronization are done and how various magnitudes (such as amplitude, phase difference and frequency)
can be measured with the help of the oscilloscope.
2. THEORY
The time invariant signal shown in Figure 1 are called as DC signals. Signals that change periodically with
respect to time shown in Figure 2 are called as AC signals.
Figure 1. DC signals
Figure 2. AC signal
2.1. Oscilloscope
An oscilloscope is an electronic device that allows us to see and calculate the properties of signals along with
waveforms. The oscilloscope is one of the most widely used measuring instruments in electronics. Displays
the correlation between the two signals applied to the X and Y channels on a screen. In case these signs are
periodic functions and under special conditions, the figures of the applied signals on the screen are obtained.
Thus, the time relation between the two functions can be easily observed on a standing figure. In short, the
oscilloscope can be defined as an instrument that shows the instantaneous value of electrical signals and their
change over time. There are two types of oscilloscopes:
2.1.1. Cathode Ray Tube Oscilloscope (CRTO)
Due to the cathode ray tube in its structure to show the AC signal, it occupies a large space, and it is heavy.
Its working principle is to show the signal as a result of deflecting the electron beam and reflecting it on the
screen. These classical oscilloscopes are gradually being replaced by digital oscilloscopes.
2.1.2. Digital Oscilloscope
They take up less space and are lightweight as they use a digital screen to show the signal. Some rechargeable
and portable digital oscilloscopes provide great advantages especially during field work. In addition, it has
many technological advantages such as the memory feature and the ability to transfer signal information to a
computer. Recently, new generation oscilloscopes have started to be produced that allow various calculations
to be made on the obtained signal.
2.2. Probes
After powering up the oscilloscope, a probe is attached to the input signal channel. Generally, two types of
measuring probes are used. These are the X1 probe, which does not attenuate the signal, and the X10 probe,
which attenuates the signal 10 times. While working with this second type of probe, if there is a voltage of 5
V at the tip of the probe, this voltage is seen as 0.5 V on the oscilloscope.
2.3. Voltage Measurement on Oscilloscope
In modern oscilloscopes, period is measured instead of frequency. Period measurements are made on the
horizontal axis. The length of a period of the waveform in the X-axis direction is determined by counting
squares. Then, the period of the signal is determined by multiplying the value displayed by the TIMEBASE
commutator with the number of frames.
Figure 3. Digital Oscilloscope
2.4. Time/Div (Time per Division)
Time/div is expressed by the number of frames on the horizontal axis on the oscilloscope screen. Whichever
value the time/div shows, it means that each horizontal frame during the signal corresponds to that value. In
this way, the period value of the signal can be obtained.
2.5. Volt/Div (Voltage per division)
Volt/div is expressed by the number of frames on the horizontal axis on the oscilloscope screen. Whichever
value volt/div indicates, it means that each vertical square along the signal corresponds to that value. In this
way, the voltage value of the signal can be obtained.
2.6. AC and DC Modes
Selects the input type for the signal to be measured.
AC: Only alternating voltages can be measured. If the alternating voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage,
this DC voltage is not included in the oscilloscope.
DC: In this position, direct voltages and alternating voltages can be measured together.
2.7. Signal Generator
Oscilloscopes produced in recent years also have signal generators. It is possible to generate various types of
signals by using the signal generators on the oscilloscope.
2.8. Voltage and period measurements with oscilloscope
Figure 4. Signal on oscilloscope
Assuming Volt/Div=1V and Time/Div=0.5ms in Figure-4:
Peak to peak voltage of signal is = 4xVolt/Div=4x1=4 Volts peak to peak (Vpp)
Maximum voltage is = 2xVolt/Div=2x1=2 Volts (Vmax)
Period of the signal is
20.39-14.1=6.29
Period=6.29xTime/Div=6.29x0.5ms=3.145ms
3. Experimental Work
3.1. Turn the oscilloscope on. Connect the signal lead of the Channel 1 probe to the “Probe Comp” output of
the oscilloscope. Press the “Autoscale” key. Wait a few seconds. A square wave signal generated by the
oscilloscope is going to be observed on the screen. Observe the reference point represented by an arrow on
the left side of the display which corresponds to the ground level of the waveform. Measure the peak-to-peak
value and the period of the signal by counting the squares on the display. Record these values.
a) Vary the “Vertical Division Control” of the Channel 1 and observe the changes in the waveform.
What is happening?
b) Vary the “Horizontal Division Control” of the oscilloscope and observe the variations in the display.
What is happening?
c) Vary the “Vertical Position Control” and observe the changes in the display.
d) Vary the “Horizontal Position Control” and observe the changes in the display.
3.2. Press Channel 1 selection button. Be sure that Channel 1 is active. If not, press Channel 1 selection button
again. A menu at the right side of the display is going to be observed. Note: Sub-menu’s and soft keys will be
seen at the bottom line of the oscilloscope screen after selecting Channel 1.
a) On this menu, press the soft key corresponding to “coupling” to change the coupling mode from
“DC” to “AC”. Observe the changes in the waveform. Plot the resulting waveform.
b) Return to “DC” coupling mode by selecting the “DC” mode. Plot the waveform. Now press the
“Invert” soft key on the menu. Plot the observed waveform. (Note the change in the waveform.)
3.3. Press the Channel 1 selection button to make the channel inactive. Then, disconnect the Channel 1 probe
from “Probe Comp” output, and connect the Channel 2 probe to the same output. Press the Channel 2 selection
button to activate it and repeat Steps 3.1 and 3.2 for Channel 2. (Plot is not required.)
3.4. Press the “Measure” button. A menu will appear at the bottom of the display. Don’t forget to activate
related channel.
a) Press the “Type” soft key on the menu. Measure the peak-to-peak voltage of the waveform by
pressing the soft key corresponding to “Peak-Peak”. Record this value.
b) Press the “Type” soft key on the menu. Now, measure the period of the signal by pressing the period
soft key corresponding to “Period”. Record this value. You can also measure the frequency, rise time,
fall time etc. by pressing the corresponding soft keys on the menu.
c) Use the “Clear Meas” soft key to clear all the existing measurements on the display.
3.5. Experimentally generate the following ac voltage signals. Draw or take the photo of the signal that you
generated (Please write down the Time/Div and Volt/Div values).
a) 0.5Vpp – 12kHz
b) 2Vpp – 1.5kHz
c) 2.5Vpp – 500Hz
3.6. Set up the circuit of Figure 5. Connect the Channel 1 and Channel 2 probes as shown in the figure. Then,
press the “Math” button. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Also, a third signal (the purple one)
will be observed on the screen.
a) Press the soft key corresponding to “Operator” to make the operation “-”. This operation subtracts
the signal in Channel 2 from the signal in Channel 1, and the third signal observed corresponds to the
difference signal. Plot the third signal. (The reference point and the scale of the resulting signal can be
adjusted from the second page of the “Math” menu.)
b) Press the soft key corresponding to “Operate” repeatedly to select the operation “+”. Observe the
sum of the signals in Channel 1 and Channel 2 on the display. Plot the resulting waveform.
Figure 5. Circuit for Experimental work
Equipment and Components
DC Power Supply
AVO meter
Oscilloscope
Resistors 560Ω (#1), 1kΩ (#1)
