Virtual Oscilloscope

This demonstration introduces students to a virtual oscilloscope that can be run in a web browser or on a phone. Students can visualize sound waves from a microphone or signals in a simple circuit simulation, learning how amplitude and frequency appear on an oscilloscope screen.

1. Use an online oscilloscope or download an app.
2. Clap, whistle, or speak into the microphone and observe the wave pattern.
3. Adjust the time scale to zoom in on individual wave cycles or zoom out to see longer trends.
4. Change the amplitude scale to fit the wave onto the display.

Search for virtual oscilloscopes online or as an app e.g.:

IS1: Virtual Oscilloscope - Jennifer Merritt:

📄 Virtual Oscilloscope - academo: https://academo.org/demos/virtual-oscilloscope/

• Compare different sounds—voice, whistle, tapping a desk, or playing a musical instrument.
• Record and compare low-pitch and high-pitch sounds to see the effect on frequency.
• Use the simulator to compare sine, square, and triangle waves.
• Use the app’s export function (e.g., in phyphox) to collect data and plot in a spreadsheet.

• Ensure volume is kept at a comfortable level to avoid hearing damage.
• Avoid using actual electrical equipment unless under supervision; use simulations for beginners.
• If using headphones or speakers, keep volume low when generating tones.

• How does the oscilloscope display change when you clap versus when you hum? (Clapping produces short, irregular spikes; humming shows a repeating wave.)
• What does the distance between wave peaks represent? (It represents the period; the inverse is the frequency of the sound.)
• How does a louder sound appear on the screen? (The wave amplitude increases.)
• How does a higher-pitched sound appear compared to a lower-pitched one? (The frequency increases, so the waves appear closer together.)