UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Name: Larona Tsametse Masoso 202303941

Laboratory Title: OSCILLOSCOPE AND DC VOLTAGES
Course Code: EEB 241
Date of Submission: 06/03/2025

1|Page
 1. ABSTRACT
This experiment aimed to familiarise and measure DC voltages using an oscilloscope and
compare its accuracy with a digital multi-meter. Results showed a minor 2% discrepancy,
confirming that oscilloscopes prioritize waveform visualization over precision. Calibration
inconsistencies and attenuator settings were identified as potential sources of error. The
findings highlight the importance of proper oscilloscope configuration for accurate
measurements, with future improvements focusing on refined calibration and multiple trials.

2|Page
Table of Contents
1. ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
2. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION................................................................................................5
4. METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................6
i) Procedure....................................................................................................................................6
ii) List of equipment........................................................................................................................6
5. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS..........................................................................................................7
i) Sample calculations....................................................................................................................7
6. DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................8
7. CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
8. References......................................................................................................................................10

3|Page
 2. INTRODUCTION
An oscilloscope displays voltage on its y-axis and time on its x-axis hence why under
constant input DC voltages it displays a horizontal line because the voltage is constant in
time.
The objective of this lab report is to measure, familiarize and observe the DC voltages using
an oscilloscope. This lab also demonstrates the difference between the oscilloscope readings
and the reliability of readings compared to the digital multi-meter.

Aims

To observe experimentally the effect of an inductance and capacitance on current in a single-

phase ac circuit.
- To verify experimentally that the magnitude of the circuit impedance, Z is given by the
relation:
ZRXXLc22()
where R is the resistance and XL , XL are respectively the inductive and capacitive reactance
in the circuit.

4|Page
 3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
An oscilloscope is an electrical measuring device that displays a graph of a voltage as a
function of time. This allows a user to make both voltage and time measurements [1]
Invented in 1893 by Andre Blondel the oscilloscope has developed to be a multifunctional
instrument adopted in many fields from engineering all the way to telecommunication. It is a
very resourceful tool that is used to measure and analyze signal characteristics such as
amplitude, frequency, and phase relationships. The oscilloscope operates by plotting voltage
against time on a screen, where the vertical axis represents voltage, and the horizontal axis
represents time.

An oscilloscope contains a cathode ray tube (CRT), in which the deflection of an electron
beam that falls onto a phosphor screen is directly proportional to the voltage applied across a
pair of parallel deflection plates. A measurement of this deflection yields a measurement of
the applied voltage [2]

A key feature of the oscilloscope is the input coupling switch, which allows users to select
between different signal modes, such as AC, DC, or ground. In this experiment, the DC mode
is used to measure a steady voltage signal. The oscilloscope's accuracy depends on
proper calibration and the selection of appropriate settings, including the
voltage per division (V/Div). Although highly versatile, oscilloscopes are
not always highly accurate when compared to digital multimeters, which
are specifically designed for precise voltage measurements.

Figure 1 Experimental setup showing Digital multimeter parallel to the DC Power source and Oscilloscope and the circuit diagram on the
right

5|Page
6|Page
 4. METHODOLOGY
i) Procedure
To prepare for the experiment using an oscilloscope, begin by performing a few essential
checks and setups. Start by powering on the oscilloscope and setting the trigger mode to
AUTO in the TRIGGER section, while keeping the trace brightness as low as practical yet
visible. Adjust the MAIN TIME/DIV knob in the HORIZONTAL section to 0.1 ms to control
the horizontal axis and position the trace—such as aligning the zero crossing of a waveform
with a vertical graticule for measuring the time period [3] While setting the vertical and
horizontal MAIN TIME/DIV knobs to manage input voltage for vertical deflection. Switch
the VERTICAL mode to DUAL for a two-channel display, set CH1 and CH2 coupling to
DC, and adjust their VOLT/DIV knobs to 1 V (1 V/cm, 0.2 V/division). Use the POSITION
knobs to align CH1 and CH2 traces to the bottom grid line as the zero point, or alternatively,
position CH1 2 cm below the top grid line and CH2 2 cm above the bottom grid line to
clearly display positive and negative voltages. Ensure both probe switches are set to x1, then
clip the CH1 probe’s alligator clip to circuit ground and connect the CH1 probe tip to the first
voltage point (and CH2 probe to a second point if needed). Measure the voltage by reading
the trace displacement (1 V/cm), increasing the VOLT/DIV setting if the trace exceeds 8 V,
ensuring accurate and visible results throughout the process [4]
ii) List of equipment
1. Oscilloscope
2. Variable DC Voltage source.
3. Multimeter

4.
5. - AC power supply 0 to 24V, 50Hz
6. - Oscilloscope
7. - Multimeter
8. - Resistor: 100Ω
9. - Capacitor: 10μF
10. - Inductor: 30mH
11.

7|Page
 5. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Supply Voltage reading on

multimeter (V) 1 3 5 7
Attenuator Setting (Volts/Div) 1 2 2 5
Peak-to-Peak Deflection (cm) 2.8 4.8 7.8 4.0
Peak-to-Peak Voltage (Volts) 2.8 9.6 15.6 20
RMS Voltage (Volts 1.980 6.788 11.031 14.142
Resistance Branch AB (Ohms) 18.420 40.570 31.210 7.067
Voltage Branch AB (Volts) VL 0.043 0.144 0.244 0.303
Voltage Branch BC (Volts) Vc 0.901 3.013 4.994 6.272
Voltage Branch CD (Volts) VR 0.268 0.875 1.467 1.842
Voltage Branch AD (Volts) 0.970 3.239 5.407 6.638
Calculated XL (Ohms) 7.068 23.646 40.012 49.687
Calculated Xc (Ohms) 147.781 493.998 818.897 1028.499
Calculated Z (Ohms) using (R2+Xl2-
Xc2) 141.068 470.458 778.949 978.864
Calculated Current (A) using
Vad/(R2+Xl2-Xc2) 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.007
Phase Angle -44.928 -44.994 -44.998 -44.999
Power Factor 0.585 0.531 0.527 0.527

Table 1Record of DC signal measurements

i) Sample calculations

Oscilloscope voltage (V )= Attenuator settings ( cmV ) × Beam deflection( cm )

V AD
Calculated current ( A )=
√ R +(X − X
2
L C
2
)
−1 X L −X C
∅ ( phase angle)=tan ( )
XR
P . f ( power factor )=cos ∅

8|Page
Example (using column 5)
Oscilloscope voltage (V)= 0.5(V/cm) x 5.0cm =2.5V

Major Discrepancy

Oscilloscopeinput voltage−Power supply output voltage

= ×100=%

= 4.5 ×100=2.22 %
Power supply output voltage
4.6−4.5

Z=√ R 2+(X L −X C )2

Z= 324.6691
V peak
V r . m . s=
√2
Vrms

6. DISCUSSION
The objective of this lab was to measure and familiarize with Oscilloscope under constant DC
voltages. From the results it is observed that indeed the oscilloscope can measure DC
voltages by deflection of the horizontal waveform line. As expected the results show a slight
discrepancy of 2% though this discrepancy indicates that the results are fairly accurate and
acceptable it does confirm the theory that oscilloscopes a slightly less accurate than digital-
multi-meters as the prioritize waveform and display over precise accuracy of the voltage [5].
In addition to that, another possible source of error is calibration of the oscilloscope prior to
carrying out the experiment. To improve the reliability of the results, future experiments
extensive measures can be implemented to ensure precise results with minimal discrepancy.

9|Page
 7. CONCLUSION
This lab successfully demonstrated the oscilloscope’s capability to measure constant DC
voltages through the deflection of the horizontal waveform line. The observed 2%
discrepancy in the results, while slightly higher than the typical ±1.5% accuracy specified for
oscilloscopes, remains within an acceptable range and supports the hypothesis that
oscilloscopes are less precise than digital multimeters (DMMs). To enhance reliability in
future experiments, thorough calibration procedures and repeated measurements could be
implemented to minimize discrepancies, ensuring more consistent and accurate data. Overall,
this lab provided valuable insight into the practical strengths and limitations of oscilloscopes
for DC voltage measurement

10 | P a g e
 8. References
[1] Oscilloscope Guide, Yorba Linda: B&K Precision Corporation.
[2] M. S. University, "EXPERIMENT 4 The Oscilloscope," [Online]. Available:
https://web.pa.msu.edu/courses/2008summer/phy252/manual/oscilloscope.pdf. [Accessed 05
February 2025].
[3] C. M. M0HLS, "How to use a basic oscilloscope," PRACTICAL WIRELESS , p. 38, 2024.
[4] F. o. E. Technology, "Laboratory 1: Familiarisation with the oscilloscope Appendix," University
of Botswana, Gaborone, 2025.
[5] "Tektronix," Tektronix, [Online]. Available: https://www.tek.com/en/documents/primer/xyzs-
oscilloscopes-primer. [Accessed 06 March 2025].
[6] C. K. Alexander and M. N. Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, Fifth ed., New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2013.
[7] D. C. Giancoli, Physics for scientists & engineers with modern physics, 3 ed., New York: Pearson
Learning Solutions, 2009.
[8] P. A. Tipler and G. Mosca, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, New York: Susan Finnemore
Brennan, 2008.
[9] F. o. E. a. Technology, "Lab 1: Familiarisation with the oscilloscope," University of Botswana,
Gaborone, 2025.

11 | P a g e