4.

1 Simple Lissajous Figures

Objective
• To study the pattern produced by two perpendicular sinusoidal signals with a constant phase
relation
Apparatus
22 kΩ resistor 1
0 – 50 kΩ rheostat 1
0.33 µF capacitor 1
leads 2
low voltage a.c. power source 1
dual trace CRO with coaxial cables 1
multi-meter 1

1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1a. Set the rheostat at its maximum value. Keep the source
at a floating potential.
2. Set the CRO at the XY mode. Use channel 1 and 2 to display Vx and Vy respectively. Turn the
X-shift and Y-shift knobs to bring the pattern to the central portion of the screen. Adjust the
X-gain and the Y-gain until the observed pattern occupies about 80% full screen.
3. Draw the pattern observed in Figure 1b.
Vx

2 V, 50 Hz 0-50 kΩ
Vy

22 k Ω

Figure 1a Circuit I Figure 1b

In circuit I, a ____________ line with a _________ (positive/negative) slope is obtained. Vx

and Vy are _____________ (in/900 out of /1800 out of) phase.

4. Reduce the resistance R of the rheostat. What happens to the slope of the line?
____________________________________________________________

5. Express the slope in terms of the resistance of the resistors. Explain the result in step 4.

22 kΩ
slope = Vy/Vx = Ry/Rx =
22 kΩ + R

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6. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 2. Keep the output of the power supply at floating
potential. Draw the pattern observed in the space provided.
In circuit II, a ____________ line with a _________ (positive/negative) slope is obtained. Vx and
Vy are _____________ (in/900 out of /1800 out of) phase.

Vx

2 V, 50 Hz 0-50 kΩ

22 k Ω

Vy
Figure 2a Circuit II
Figure 2b
7. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 3. Draw the pattern observed in the space provided.

Vx

2 V, 50 Hz 0-50 kΩ
E

0.33µF

Vy

Figure 3a Circuit III Figure 3b

In circuit III, a ____________ is obtained. This shows that Vx and Vy are _____________
(in/900 out of /1800 out of) phase.
8. Use the same voltage-per-cm setting for X-gain and Y-gain. Adjust the rheostat until a ‘circle’ is
obtained. Use a multi-meter to find the resistance of the rheostat. Calculate the reactance 1/ωC of
the capacitor. State the conditions under which we can obtain a circle in the Lissajous figure?
R = __________ , 1/ωC = ___________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

9. If the figure produced in step 7 is not satisfactory, suggest one method to improve the quality of
the pattern.
___________________________________________________________________
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4.2 Phase relation between the voltage across a capacitor and the current through it
Objective
• To show that the current through a capacitor leads the voltage across the capacitor by 900

Apparatus
10 µF capacitor 1
3.3 Ω resistor 1
copper connections a few
leads 2
power signal generator 1
dual trace CRO with coaxial cables 1

V1

10 µF VR =IR I
3 V, 100 Hz
V2

3.3 Ω |VC |=I /ωC

E
VC V
Figure 1 Figure 2
Theory
Suppose an a.c. voltage V is applied across R and C in series. The vector diagram representing VR,
VC and V is shown in Figure 2. Since the same current will flow through R and C, VR is in phase
with the current I through C. If the reactance of C, say 1/ωC, is much larger than the resistance R,
the phase difference between VC and V will be very small and these vectors will have
approximately the same amplitude.

Procedure
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1. Connect input 1 of the CRO across both C and R, and
input 2 across R.

2. Switch on the CRO. Select the dual trace display mode. Switch both channel inputs to ground.
Adjust the y-shift of each channel until the two lines coincide with the central x-axis of the screen.
Switch the trigger source to channel 1. Adjust the V-gains and the time base until one complete
wave is observed in each channel occupying nearly full screen. Set the trigger level at 0 V and the
trigger slope to positive.

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3. Calculate the reactance of C and compare it the resistance R.
XC = 1/ωC = ___________, R = _________
XC _______(>>/<<) R
4. Explain why the current through C can be represented by the display in channel 1.
__________________________________________________________________________
Use the result in step 3, explain why the voltage across C can be approximated by the display in
channel 2.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Sketch the CRO traces in Figure 3. Label the traces. What is the phase relation between these two
traces? Does the phase relation agree with that predicted by the vector diagram?

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4.3 Phase relation between the voltage across an inductor and the current through it
Objective
• To show that the current through an inductor lags the voltage across the inductor by 900

Apparatus
coil with ferrite rod 1
3.3 Ω resistor 1
copper connectors a few
leads 2
power signal generator 1
dual trace CRO with coaxial cables 1

V1 VL V

3 V, 20 kHz L

V2 |VL | = IωL

3.3 Ω

E
VR =IR I
Figure 1 Figure 2

Theory
Suppose an a.c. voltage V is applied across R and L in series. Assume that the inductor has zero
resistance. The vector diagram representing VR, VL and V is shown in Figure 2. If the reactance of
L, say ωL, is much larger than the resistance R, the phase difference between VL and V will be very
small and these vectors will have approximately the same amplitude. Since the same current will
flow through R and L, VR is in phase with the current I through the inductor.

Procedure
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1. Connect input 1 of the CRO across both L and R, and
input 2 across R.
2. Switch on the CRO. Select the dual trace display mode. Bring the zero levels of two displays
coincide with one another. Switch the trigger source to channel 2. Adjust the V-gains and the time
base until one complete wave is observed in each channel and the display occupies approximately
full screen. Set the trigger level at 0 V and the trigger slope to positive.
3. Assume that the inductance of the coil is of the order of 1 mH. Estimate the reactance of L and
30
 compare it the resistance R.
XL ≈ ωL = ___________, R = _________
XL _______(>>/<<) R
4. Use the result in step 3. Explain why the voltage across L can be approximated by the display in
channel 1 .

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Explain why the current through L can be represented by the display in channel 2.

_________________________________________________________________________
5. Sketch the CRO traces in Figure 3. Label the traces. What is the phase relation between these two
traces? Does the phase relation agree exactly with that predicted by the vector diagram?

Explain the discrepancies in terms of the difference between V and VL, and the resistance of the
inductor.

31
4.4 Measurement of a small phase difference
Objective
• To measure a small phase difference of the order of 10 between two signals

Apparatus
2.2 µF capacitor 1
22 kΩ resistor 1
copper connections a few
leads 2
power signal generator 1
dual trace CRO 1

V1

2.2 µF I VR =IR
3 V, 200 Hz
V2 |VC | =I/ωC

VC

V
22 kΩ

E Figure 2

Theory
Suppose an a.c. voltage V is applied across R and C in series. The vector diagram representing VR,
VC and V is shown in Figure 2. If the reactance of C, say 1/ωC, is much smaller than the
resistance R, the phase difference between VR and V will be very small and these vectors will have
approximately the same amplitude.

Procedure
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1. Connect input 1 of the CRO across both C and R, and
input 2 across R.

2. Switch on the CRO. Select the dual trace display mode. Describe the initial adjustments which
must be done in order to measure the phase difference of two signals.

(Hint: How do you set the positions of the zero levels? How do you set the trigger source?)

________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

32
3. Keep the time base calibrated. Adjust the sensitivities of the CRO so that one or two complete
wave of each channel is shown on the screen (Figure 3).
Measure the period T of one of the signals.

T = length of one complete wave x time base setting

= _________ cm x _________ ms/ cm = ________ ms

2 2 1

T ∆T

Figure 3 Two signals with a small phase difference Figure 4 Enlarged display of the framed part

4. Readjust the sensitivities of the CRO so that only the framed portion appears on the screen and
the separation between the two traces is made as wide as possible (Figure 4).

Find the time difference ∆T.

∆T = width of separation between two traces x time base setting in Figure 4
= ___________ cm x _________ ms/ cm = ___________ ms

5. Find the phase difference from ∆T and T.

∆θ = ∆T/T x 3600 = ________ (in degrees)

or ∆θ = ∆T/T x 2π = ________ (in radian)

6. With the help of the vector diagram, express the phase difference in terms of C, R and ω and
calculate its value.
________________________________________________________________________
Explain the difference between step 6 and step 7.
(Hint: Consider the tolerance of electrolytic capacitors.)

________________________________________________________________________

7. Suggest a simple method to measure capacitance using a CRO and a standard resistor.
________________________________________________________________________

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