5.2 The oscilloscope

I declare: solidlikelyshaky

1. Set timebase, vertical scale and coupling to see a given signal, without auto mode.
2. Trigger on an edge, on a level and on a rare pulse, and explain why the picture "scrolls" when the trigger is wrong.
3. Compensate a ×10 probe, explain what ×1 and ×10 change in bandwidth and in loading on the circuit.
4. Explain why the probe’s ground is tied to earth and what happens if you put it on a live mains point.
5. Measure a rise time, a frequency and a phase shift with the cursors, and say the instrument’s bandwidth limit.
6. Observe two signals at once (a command and its response) and use XY mode or the Fourier transform to see a phase or a harmonic.
7. Capture a one-off event in single-shot mode and keep it.
8. Diagnosis: a "noisy" signal that isn’t, the ground clip too long; show it with a ground spring.