How does an oscilloscope work?

An oscilloscope is an electronic device used to display and analyse waveforms of electrical signals.

The oscilloscope works by taking an electrical signal and displaying it as a graph on a screen. The signal is first amplified and then directed to the vertical deflection plates of the oscilloscope. The horizontal deflection plates are driven by a time base generator, which causes the electron beam to move across the screen at a constant rate. The signal is then displayed as a waveform on the screen.

The vertical deflection plates of the oscilloscope are used to control the amplitude of the signal. The signal is amplified and then directed to the vertical deflection plates, which cause the electron beam to move up and down on the screen. The amplitude of the signal is then displayed as the height of the waveform on the screen.

The oscilloscope also has various controls that allow the user to adjust the display of the waveform. These controls include the time base, which controls the speed at which the waveform is displayed, and the trigger, which synchronises the waveform with the time base.

Overall, the oscilloscope is a powerful tool for analysing electrical signals and is used in a wide range of applications, from electronics and telecommunications to medicine and biology.