The
generic
term for
a
pattern
that
repeats
over
time is
a
wave
- sound
waves,
brain
waves,
ocean
waves,
and
voltage
waves
are all
repeating
patterns.
An
oscilloscope
measures
voltage
waves.
One
cycle
of a
wave is
the
portion
of the
wave
that
repeats.
A
waveform
is a
graphic
representation
of a
wave. A
voltage
waveform
shows
time on
the
horizontal
axis and
voltage
on the
vertical
axis.
Waveform
shapes
tell you
a great
deal
about a
signal.
Any time
you see
a change
in the
height
of the
waveform,
you know
the
voltage
has
changed.
Any time
there is
a flat
horizontal
line,
you know
that
there is
no
change
for that
length
of time.
Straight
diagonal
lines
mean a
linear
change -
rise or
fall of
voltage
at a
steady
rate.
Sharp
angles
on a
waveform
mean
sudden
change.
Figure
shows
below
common
waveforms
and Next
figure
shows
some
common
sources
of
waveforms.
