Conversely, if the time base is adjusted to a slower speed, the waveform will expand horizontally, making cycles appear larger on the screen. In these scenarios, the "larger wave" is actually a distortion of the true signal.
Why Time Base and Signal Factors Create Larger Oscilloscope Waves
When a signal has high-frequency components or impedance mismatches, it can create reflections that manifest as large, spiky waves on the display. Addressing this requires proper termination of cables and ensuring the oscilloscope’s bandwidth is sufficient to capture the signal without introducing artifacts.
Foundations of Waveform Display An oscilloscope functions by plotting voltage on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. Attenuation probes, such as 10:1 or 20:1, reduce the incoming signal voltage before it reaches the oscilloscope circuitry.
How Time Base and Signal Distortion Create Larger Waves on Your Oscilloscope
The time base setting dictates how much time is represented across the width of the screen. This expansion makes the wave look "larger" in the horizontal dimension, even though the actual frequency of the signal remains unchanged.
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