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Scope-Trace Quiz
March 1965 Popular Electronics

March 1965 Popular Electronics

March 1965 Popular Electronics Cover - RF Cafe  Table of Contents

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Popular Electronics, published October 1954 - April 1985. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

Just yesterday I posted an article titled "Understanding Your Triggered Sweep Scope," that appeared in the May 1973 issue of Popular Electronics, so I figured this "Scope-Trace Quiz" would make a good compliment. It is from a 1965 issue of Popular Electronics. Driver circuits all include a sinewave source in parallel with a series resistor and diode, connected to the vertical and horizontal o-scope inputs. The resulting Lissajous waveforms resemble hands on a clock face thanks to the diode. Shamefully, I only scored 70%, but in my own defense I'll say I didn't take the time to draw them out on paper. Pay careful attention to the scope connections. There was another o-scope quiz in 1961.

Scope-Trace Quiz

Scope-Trace Quiz, March 1965 Popular Electronics - RF CafeBy Robert P. Balin

How are you at vectors? Here's a chance to get some practice and test your scope sense. The vertical and horizontal input signals to an oscilloscope combine to form Lissajous patterns whose appearance depends on the waveform, frequency, and relative phase of the two signals. Knowing how these patterns are formed will help you to interpret waveforms and to have a better understanding of the scope. Test your ability to project (vectorially) the forces at work on the electron beam in the CRT. Six different oscilloscope traces are shown in A-F. Can you match them with circuits 1-6 below?

Oscilloscope waveforms - RF CafeThe resistor used in each circuit has a value equal to the reverse resistance of the diode. Forward resistance of the diode is negligible. The circuits shown do not load or distort the signal source. Both the vertical and horizontal gain controls have been set to provide equal gain. Positive-going signals cause the beam to be deflected upward for the vertical input and to the right for the horizontal input, The example at left shows the resultant trace derived from the same signal applied to both the vertical and horizontal scope inputs. Tips on how to solve this quiz appear with the answers (at bottom of page).

 

See answers below.

Quizzes from vintage electronics magazines such as Popular Electronics, Electronics-World, QST, Radio-Electronics, and Radio News were published over the years - some really simple and others not so simple. Robert P. Balin created most of the quizzes for Popular Electronics. This is a listing of all I have posted thus far.

RF Cafe Quizzes

Vintage Electronics Magazine Quizzes

Vintage Electronics Magazine Quizzes

 

 

Scope-Trace Quiz Answers

If you had trouble solving this quiz, consider the following facts:

(1) Output across the complete resistor and diode circuit is the same amplitude as the input signal.

(2) Output across the resistor only varies between 50% and 100% (100% when the diode is working in the forward direction).

(3) Output across the diode varies between 50% and 0% (0% when the diode is working in the forward direction).

ConductRF Precision RF Test Cables MAESTRO - RF Cafe

About RF Cafe

Kirt Blattenberger - RF Cafe Webmaster

Copyright: 1996 - 2025
Webmaster: Kirt Blattenberger,
   BSEE - KB3UON - AMA92498
   USAF Radar Technician

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...

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