Phase Measurements on the Oscilloscope

In many physical phenomena resulting in oscillating moti011, currents, voltages, etc. it is necessary
to determine a phase shift present in one o f the parameters. In this experiment we will investigate the
phase shift of a sinusoidal current produced in a simple circuit powered by a sinusoidal voltage. The
phase shift of the current will be measured relative to the phase ofthe voltage.
THEORY:
In this experiment we will measure the phase shift two different ways. First we will produce a
Lissajous pattem by using our dual beam oscilloscope as an X-Y display device, then we look at the
the phase difference directly by putting the signals into the oscilloscope channels 1 and 2 and
measuring the phase shift in terms of the time base.
Method 1 The Lissajous Figure
The two sinusoids we wish to compare may be represented by:
where is the phase shift to be determined. Notice that V
1
may or may not be equal to V2. The
sinusoids are written out as Vx and Vy because we will put the two voltages into the vertical (y) and the
horizontal (x) axes of the oscilloscope. Begin by deriving a relation between the phase shift and the
observable voltages so that we can anticipate what will be seen on the scope.
Expand Vy = V
2
( sinrotcos + cosrotsin) and substitute using sinrot = V xN 1 to get
v2
V y = ------ V xCOS + V 2cosrotsin
V1
This equation can now be solved for cosrot so that we have
v2
cosrot =
Vy- --- VxCOS
V1
Now substitute in sin
2
rot + cos
2
rot
(Vy- {V2Nt}Vxcos)
2
and
1 to obtain
1 = ---------------------------- + v X 2 N 12
V/sin
2

which reduces to
grouping like terms gives us
since sinrot = V xN 1
16
V/V.Zsin
2
= V1
2
V/ + V/V/- 2V1V2VxVyeos
or finally
v2
y Vx
2
VxVy
sin
2
=
+ ------ -
2------- cos
V/ v.Z V1V2
This is the equation ofan ellipse! The derivation shows that two sinusoidal functions oftime, in this case
voltages, when plotted against each other will appear as an ellipse. In particular, ifwe consider the
relation when Vx or Vy = 0:
IfVx =O then sin = V/V2 and ifVy =O then sin = VxN
1
Note that we are at the corresponding intercepts for Vy or V x
The diagram shows how the ellipse is produced on the oscilloscope. Note that we only get ll
because the + indicates the direction the beam is moving, and this is not observable. The pattem is an
example of a Lissajous figure. Lissajous figures result when we plot , or physically drive, two
sinusoids perpendicular to each other. We are investigating an example where rox = roy, but in general
Lissajous figures are produced even if rox = roy. In this method we will measure both Vy, V
2
and V x, V
1
and use sin = V /V 2, and V xN 1 corresponding to V x and Vy = O (intercept) to determine ll. F o r
improved accuracy it is better to measure a larger range such as 2Vy and 2Vx.
I/
o r-
-
o
"-,

'\ I
//1 :
I
I
T = 21T
6)
-
',/I
vt(fl /fv ./
- ---- -- 0 r------ y /- v ,.
' X .//
I ,.,. ....A-
,..,."'"' I
I
t =o
-} o
17
Method 1: Dual Channel Scope lnputs
In this case we put the driving voltage sinusoid and the resulting voltage V c into channels 1 and 2 of
the oscilloscope respectively. The time bases can then be observed to find the phase shift in terms of a
time difference that can be related to a phase shift angle as a fraction of the period T. It is important
to watch your grounding in this set up because the function generator and scope have a common
ground through the power connection.
PROCEDURE:
Set up your circuit as shown below:
c= 0.02J.LF
R=22k
The sine wave, or driving voltage is provided by the "function generator. Set the function generator to
produce a 400HZ sine wave with -2 V peak-to-peak voltage.
The basic circuit will be the same will be the same for both methods so we will do the measurements
in sequence. First we will use the Lissajous figure then we will use the time base phase shift. Make a
'--.._../ measurement for tive frequencies, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 Hz.
Set the oscilloscope on internai trigger, with the function generator output connected to channel 1
ofthe scope. Now set the output of the function generator by adjusting the amplitude on the front of
the function generator until the sine wave on the scope is 2 V peak-to-peak.
PAR T 1: Connect the output o f the function generator to the circuit as shown above as E. Now connect
the channel 2 probe across R making sure the clip is connected to a common ground.
Switch the scope to X-Y mode making sure the probes are 1 X inputs. Adjust the Y -axis
gain so the ellipse is easily measured. Record the Vy, V 2, V x and V 1 data for each frequency
in data table 1.
PART 2: Now switch out ofthe X-Y mode operation, and measure the phase shift for each frequency
by comparing the two sinusoids on the time base. Record this data as .::1t. Be careful to set
up your scope trigger so that the signal from channel 1 (function generator) is the trigger.
Note since you are monitoring VR this experiment actually makes a measurement of the
current i which we expect to be out o f phase with the driving voltage.
PAR T 3: Adding sinusoids is much like adding vectors where the direction of the vector is just as
important as the magnitude. The important quantities in the adding of sinusoids are the
amplitude (magnitude) and the phase (direction). In this experiment it is useful to investigate
how the amplitudes of Vc, VR and E are related. In order to make this observation and
determine if it is frequency dependent, measure the amplitudes o f v c, v R and E at 200, 600
and 1000 Hz. In order to do this C and R must be switched in the circuit beca use of the
ground connection. Recorda table ofVc and VR for the three frequencies.
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PRESENTATION AND CONCLUSIONS:
The presentation should begin with the calculations needed to find the phase shifts from the
recorded data. For the Lissajous figure method use the average value ofthe X-axis and Y-axis data,
and for the time shift use Atff and convert to radians. Organize your results in a table similar to that
shown below.
For each frequency compare the result for each method including an estimated error. Is the
phase shift frequency dependent? For each case write out VR both as a phasor andas a time domain
quantity. Also write E as a phasor and time domain quantity. Evaluate how the voltages add: V c+ VR or
as V c
2
+ V R
2
? Which sum is more appropriate?
DATA TABLES:
Lissajous Pattem Data
frequency
Y. Vt VJVt Vy
Yz v;vl ave
V._/Vu
200Hz
400
600
800
1000
Direct Time "Shift" Measurement
frequency T (sec) At = 21tAt/T
200Hz
400
600
800
1000
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Adding Sinusoidal Voltages
frequency V c VR ...JVc
2
+ VR
2
200Hz
600
1000
20