Objective

To introduce function generator and oscilloscope as basic instrument in laboratory or scientific investigation
work.

Materials
 Function Generator
 Oscilloscope
 Probes
 Connection Cables

Answer to Question

1. Adjust the amplitude to 10V peak-to-peak. A sine-wave with an amplitude covering 2 vertical
divisions should be seen on the oscilloscope display. Sketch the waveform on a graph paper.

Sine-wave
15

10

5
Voltage (v)

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-5

-10

-15
Time (Time per devision)µs

X-axis=1unit=250µs
Y-axis=5units=40mV

2. Measure the sine-wave amplitude from the oscilloscope display.

MAX −MIN
A= =1.05 V
2

1
3. Press the “square-wave” button on the function generator. Sketch the waveform on the graph paper.

X-axis=1unit=250µs
Y-axis=5units=40mV

4. Pull the offset knob on the function generator and then adjust the knob clockwise or counter-
clockwise. What happen to the waveform?
The waveform moves up when the knob adjusted to clockwise whereas when the knob adjusted to
anticlockwise, the waveform in the oscilloscope will moves down.

5. Set the CH1 of the oscilloscope to AC coupling. What happen to the waveform?
When we set CH1 of the oscilloscope to AC coupling the waveform will moves it up a bit.

6. Pull the “Duty” knob and adjust the knob clockwise or counter-clockwise. What happen to the
waveform? Does the frequency change? Why?
As the “Duty” knob is pulled the positive cycle becomes dominant. When the knob is adjusted
towards clockwise the negative cycle increases whereby, reverse effect happens when adjusted anti-
clockwise.

2
7. Push back the “Duty” knob. Press the “triangle-wave” button. Sketch the waveform on a graph paper.

Sine-wave
15

10

5
Voltage (V)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

-5

-10

-15

Time (Time per Division)µs

X-axis=1unit=250µs
Y-axis=5units=40mV

8. Pull the “Duty” knob and adjust the knob clockwise or counter-clockwise. What happen to the
waveform?
The waveform will change or tilts when adjust the knob clockwise or counter-clockwise.

9. For each frequency step, measure the period, T, of the sine-wave using f = 1/T. Does the result
conform to the value displayed on the function generator?
Frequency/kHz Period/µs Oscilloscope reading/µs
20 1/20k = 50.00 50.16 ≈ 50.00
40 1/40k = 25.00 24.88 ≈ 25.00
80 1/80k = 12.50 12.43 ≈ 12.50
100 1/100k = 10.00 9.93 ≈ 10.00
The result is conform to the value displayed on the function generator.

3
 10. Set the coupling to “Normal” and adjust the “trigger level”. What happen to the waveform?
The waveform will move to the left when the “trigger level” adjusted clockwise and the arrow will
move up; the speed of the waveform movement will increase when the arrow reach or go beyond the
peak. When the “trigger level” adjusted anticlockwise the waveform will move right and the arrow
will move downwards; the speed of the waveform movement will increase as well when the arrow
reach or go beyond the trough.

Discussion
This experiment is investigate to use an oscilloscope and its functions like measuring the period of wave.
Moreover, we can investigate the effects of all knobs of oscilloscope and function generator on the signal
displayed on the oscilloscope.
If the waveform is the square or the triangle wave, they are usually symmetrical. The symmetry can
be altered with the “Duty” knob. For the square wave, the period of the positive voltage can be increased and
decreased. As a result, the period of the positive voltage and the period of the negative voltage become
unequal. In other words, the waveform becomes a train of pulses. For a triangle wave, the waveform
becomes a saw-tooth shape when the “Duty” knob is adjusted.
The waveform will move to the left when the “trigger level” adjusted clockwise and the arrow will
move up; the speed of the waveform movement will increase when the arrow reach or go beyond the peak.
When the “trigger level” adjusted anticlockwise the waveform will move right and the arrow will move
downwards; the speed of the waveform movement will increase as well when the arrow reach or go beyond
the trough.
The electrical signal swings from a positive to a negative voltage and oscillates in that pattern with
respect to time. The waveform can be ‘shifted’ up or down by adding DC offset voltage. This can be
accomplished by adjusting the “DC Offset” knob. The waveform can be made to swing above 0 V for the
whole cycle. An attenuator is an electronic device that reduces the power of a signal without appreciably
distorting its waveform.

Conclusion
In this experiment, the AC signal from function generator was studied using oscilloscope and we can learn
the effects of all knobs of oscilloscope and function generator on the signal displayed on the oscilloscope.