What is an oscilloscope used to measure?
An oscilloscope measures two things: • Voltage • Time (and with time, often, frequency) An electron beam is swept across a phosphorescent screen horizontally (X direction) at a known rate (perhaps one sweep per millisecond). An input signal is used to change the position of the beam in the Y direction. The trace left behind can be used to measure the voltage of the input signal (off the Y axis) and the duration or frequency can be read off the X axis. Here are some interesting links: • How Television Works • How Guitars Work • How Power Grids Work • How Biometrics Works • The Oscilloscope •
