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Difficulty: EasyOscilloscopes

An electronics technician connects an oscilloscope to test an alternating current circuit. The vertical scale (Volts/Div) is set to 5 V/div5\text{ V/div}, and the displayed waveform has a total vertical span of 4 divisions4\text{ divisions} from the highest peak to the lowest trough. What is the peak-to-peak voltage (Vp-pV_{\text{p-p}}) of the signal?

  1. A
    10 V10\text{ V}
  2. 20 V20\text{ V}Answer
  3. C
    4 V4\text{ V}
  4. D
    0.8 V0.8\text{ V}

Answer

20 V20\text{ V}
Peak-to-peak voltage (Vp-pV_{\text{p-p}}) is the total voltage difference between the highest positive peak and the lowest negative trough of a waveform. Multiplying the total vertical displacement of 4 divisions4\text{ divisions} by the vertical sensitivity setting of 5 V/div5\text{ V/div} gives 4×5=20 V4 \times 5 = 20\text{ V}.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the given vertical division count and the Volts/Div scale setting.
Vertical span = 4 divisions4\text{ divisions}; Vertical scale = 5 V/div5\text{ V/div}.
The vertical axis on an oscilloscope measures voltage according to the specified Volts/Div sensitivity.
2
Calculate the peak-to-peak voltage (Vp-pV_{\text{p-p}}) by multiplying the total vertical divisions by the Volts/Div setting.
Vp-p=4 divisions×5 V/div=20 VV_{\text{p-p}} = 4\text{ divisions} \times 5\text{ V/div} = 20\text{ V}.
Each vertical grid square represents 5 V5\text{ V}, so 44 full squares equal 20 V20\text{ V} from minimum trough to maximum peak.

Key Concept

Calculating peak-to-peak voltage on an oscilloscope using graticule divisions and the Volts/Div scale setting
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Oscilloscopes

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