Physics307L:People/Klimov/Oscilloscope: Difference between revisions

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=Oscilloscope Lab Summary=
=Oscilloscope Lab Summary=
In this lab, I learned how to use an oscilloscope and some general information about it.The main overview of the lab is provided in the Lab Manual, and my procedures and whatnot are provided in my lab notebook:
In this lab, I learned how to use an oscilloscope and how to obtain useful information from it. The main overview of the lab is provided in the Lab Manual. My procedure, thoughts, and data are provided in my lab notebook:
*[[Physics307L:Labs/Oscilloscope|Lab Manual]]
*[[Physics307L:Labs/Oscilloscope|Lab Manual]]
*[[User:Paul_V_Klimov/Notebook/JuniorLab307L/2008/09/08#Becoming_familiar_with_the_oscilloscope|Lab Entry]]
*[[User:Paul_V_Klimov/Notebook/JuniorLab307L/2008/09/08#Becoming_familiar_with_the_oscilloscope|Lab Notebook Entry]]
===Main Data===
===Summary of Data===
*'''Fall Time'''= 51.20ms (cursor)
{{SJK Comment|l=23:40, 16 September 2008 (EDT)|c=Good reporting of your final values, and the essential inclusion of estimate of uncertainty.  Importantly, I like how you describe what your uncertainty means.  Yes, you're right that taking repeated measurements (that are independent--you try to reduce correlation between individual measurement attempts) will allow you to estimate your uncertainty in a more rigorous way.}}
*'''Fall Time'''= 48.24ms (measured)
*'''Fall Time'''= 51.20±5ms (cursor)  
The first number, as noted, was obtained by using the cursor measurements. More specifically, I cropped my voltage drop, subtracted from it 10% and found, once again by cropping, the time interval during which the voltage drop took place. I was fairly confident with this measurement until I had the oscilloscope take the measurement for me, which claimed that the fall time was 48.24ms. This discrepancy in my results forces me to conclude that I could have an uncertainty of at least ±3ms, given that the oscilloscopes measurement was perfect. From here, I used my cursor measurement (because I hope that it is more accurate than the oscilloscopes measurement) to calculate the time constant of the oscilloscope using:
*'''Fall Time'''= 48.24±3ms(measure)
*Vf=Vo·exp(-t/τ)
The first measurement, was obtained by using the oscilloscope's 'cursor' and the second was obtained using the 'measure' feature. Because of the discrepancy between my cursor measurement and the oscilloscope's built in measurement, I think a reasonable uncertainty is ±3ms for the 'measure' time and ±5ms in the 'cursor' time -- I am not as certain in my cursor measurement. However, if I were to repeat the lab, I would take more measurements so that I could reduce my experimental uncertainty and use error analysis techniques. The time that I decided to use in calculating the time constant, τ, was the oscilloscope's 'measure' measurement:  
*τ=22.2ms
*Vf=Vo·exp(-t/τ), Vf/Vo=0.1, t=48.24ms
*τ=20.95ms


===Conclusions===
===Conclusions===
*I think I learned a fair amount of information regarding what an oscilloscope does and how to use it. I learned how to use triggering, make measurements and how to operate the device in general. I am sure that this will be a handy skill which I will continue to develop throughout the coming weeks and semesters. Unfortunately I didn't quite understand what exactly AC and DC coupling did (although Dr. Koch showed me what AC coupling was useful for). However, I am sure that this will become more clear as the semester progresses.  
*In this lab, I learned how to use the oscilloscope and some of its features. In particular, I learned how to use triggering, I learned about AC coupling, how to view and manipulate an input signal, and how to make useful measurements. I am sure that these are useful skills which I will continue to develop throughout the semester.  
*I would say that I didn't really go outside of the standard procedure too much, unfortunately. Although I did get to try out many of the oscilloscopes controls, there are many more that I was unable to mess around with due to the time constraint. I think that the lab was far too short to explore everything. In fact, I never even got to the FFT section, or the one past it.
*I definitely didn't go outside of the standard procedure as much as I would have liked. Although I did get to try out many of the oscilloscope's features, there are many more that I was unable to test out due to the time constraint. In fact, I never even got to the FFT section, or to the 'Other' section that came after.
*To make the lab better, it might be a good idea to give students an opportunity to get started on the very first day of lab so that they have more time to mess around with the device.
**[[User:Steven J. Koch|Steve Koch]] 11:08, 15 September 2008 (EDT): Great idea!  I've made note of it for next year: [[User:Steven J. Koch/307L ideas/O-scope on first day]]
 
{{SJK Comment|l=23:42, 16 September 2008 (EDT)|c=This is a very good lab summary.  Future summaries will probably be longer, given the need to report some more things.  But everything about your summary is very good -- my main comments were in your raw data notebook, so make sure to look at that. Great work!}}

Latest revision as of 20:42, 16 September 2008

Oscilloscope Lab Summary

In this lab, I learned how to use an oscilloscope and how to obtain useful information from it. The main overview of the lab is provided in the Lab Manual. My procedure, thoughts, and data are provided in my lab notebook:

Summary of Data

SJK 23:40, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

23:40, 16 September 2008 (EDT)
Good reporting of your final values, and the essential inclusion of estimate of uncertainty. Importantly, I like how you describe what your uncertainty means. Yes, you're right that taking repeated measurements (that are independent--you try to reduce correlation between individual measurement attempts) will allow you to estimate your uncertainty in a more rigorous way.
  • Fall Time= 51.20±5ms (cursor)
  • Fall Time= 48.24±3ms(measure)

The first measurement, was obtained by using the oscilloscope's 'cursor' and the second was obtained using the 'measure' feature. Because of the discrepancy between my cursor measurement and the oscilloscope's built in measurement, I think a reasonable uncertainty is ±3ms for the 'measure' time and ±5ms in the 'cursor' time -- I am not as certain in my cursor measurement. However, if I were to repeat the lab, I would take more measurements so that I could reduce my experimental uncertainty and use error analysis techniques. The time that I decided to use in calculating the time constant, τ, was the oscilloscope's 'measure' measurement:

  • Vf=Vo·exp(-t/τ), Vf/Vo=0.1, t=48.24ms
  • τ=20.95ms

Conclusions

  • In this lab, I learned how to use the oscilloscope and some of its features. In particular, I learned how to use triggering, I learned about AC coupling, how to view and manipulate an input signal, and how to make useful measurements. I am sure that these are useful skills which I will continue to develop throughout the semester.
  • I definitely didn't go outside of the standard procedure as much as I would have liked. Although I did get to try out many of the oscilloscope's features, there are many more that I was unable to test out due to the time constraint. In fact, I never even got to the FFT section, or to the 'Other' section that came after.
  • To make the lab better, it might be a good idea to give students an opportunity to get started on the very first day of lab so that they have more time to mess around with the device.

SJK 23:42, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

23:42, 16 September 2008 (EDT)
This is a very good lab summary. Future summaries will probably be longer, given the need to report some more things. But everything about your summary is very good -- my main comments were in your raw data notebook, so make sure to look at that. Great work!