University of Hartford – ECE Department

AC Fundamentals Laboratory Manual Lab 1 – AC Oscilloscope

Fundamentals
Objectives
The aims of this study are to teach students how to operate an oscilloscope by examining and
measuring different waveforms and their periods and amplitudes. The basic purpose is to let
the students have a firm grip on using oscilloscope in future experiments.

Lab Results
Table 1.1
DC Voltage VOLTS/DIV Number of Divisions Oscilloscope Voltage MM Voltage
1.0Vdc 500mV. 2 1.0V 1.0V
1.5Vdc 1.0v 1.5 1.5v 1.53v
2.2Vdc 2.0v 1 2v 2.24v
3.0Vdc 2.0v 1.5 3v 3.03v
5.5Vdc 5v 1 5v 5.52v
7.5Vdc 5v 1.5 7.5v 7.53v

Table 1.2
DCrms Value VOLTS/DIV Number of Peak-to-Peak Multimeter Measured
Divisions Voltage Voltage
1.0Vrms 500mV 5.6 2.8Vpp 1.0Vrms
1.5Vrms 2v 2.3 4.6Vpp 1.56vms
2.0Vrms 2v 3 5.9vpp 2.08vms
2.8Vrms 2v 4 8.1vpp 2.83vms
3.5Vrms 2v 5.1 10.2vpp 3.54vms
4.4Vrms 2v 6.4 12.9vpp 4.46vms

Table 1.3
Function Generator Oscilloscope Number of Measured Computed
Frequency (Hz) SEC/DIV Divisions Period Period
1kHz 0.2ms 5 1ms 1ms
2kHz 0.2ms 1.4 0.28ms 1 ms
25kHz 10us 4.5 0.045ms 0.5 ms
65kHz 5us 3 0.015 ms 0.04 ms
180kHz 5us 5.5 0.03 ms 0.01 ms
450kHz 0.5ms 4.5 0.0108 ms 0.005 ms
 Table 1.4
Source Voltage Voltage across R1 Voltage across R2
Measured 4v 1.35 2.7
Computed 4Vpp 1.5 2.5

3
Voltage Across R1 = 4 x =4 x 0.375=1.5
3+5
5
Voltage Across R2 = 4 x =4 x 0. 625=2.5
3+5

Analysis
1. AC waveform has 2.6 divisions
VOLTS/DIV setting = 2.0V/DIV
peak-to-peak voltage = 2.6 x 2 = 5.2 Vpp
5.2
DC rms = =3.677V
√2
2. As stated in Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, the algebraic total of the potential differences in
any circuitry loop must really be zero. As, we can see that the values obtained in the table
2.2 are in compliance with the Kirchhoff's voltage law because the voltage drop across
the resistors connected is equal to the voltage source attached to the resistors.

3. We are given that,

Divisions = 4.5
SEC/DIV setting = 25ms/DIV

So, now we know that

Period of the wave = 4.5 x 25 x 10-3 = 112.5 ms
Frequency = 1 / period = 1 / 112.5 ms = 8.89 Hz

4. We are given that,

frequency of 20kHz
No. of divisions = 5

We know that, SEC/DIV is given by,

SEC/DIV = 1/((20 K)/5) = 2.5 us

Conclusion
To conclude, an oscilloscope is a robust tool for examining the changes in voltage over time via
the presentation of electrical signal waveforms. Please feel free to contact Circuit Specialists if
you have any more questions about oscilloscopes after reading this extensive (and short)
explanation. An oscilloscope, a laboratory tool, may show the waveform of electrical impulses.
To put it another way, the gadget charts the voltage of the current signal over time, rather than
the other way around. An oscilloscope may be used to measure AC current by measuring the
voltage drop across a shunt resistor. The voltage drop across a resistor is equal to the current's
waveform, thus it doesn't matter what shape it takes.