A student in the class, new to using oscilloscopes, attempts to capture a trace for the oscillating magnet (with just the magnet attached) on the oscilloscope. Their apparatus is virtually identical to yours in all respects. Based on carefully looking at the trace the student produced below, has the student achieved their goal of capturing the spring oscillation on the oscilloscope?
Image failed to load: the trace, please reload if the image doesn't display

Question

A student in the class, new to using oscilloscopes, attempts to capture a trace for the oscillating magnet (with just the magnet attached) on the oscilloscope. Their apparatus is virtually identical to yours in all respects. Based on carefully looking at the trace the student produced below, has the student achieved their goal of capturing the spring oscillation on the oscilloscope?

Image failed to load: the trace, please reload if the image doesn't display

Answer

Yes, the spring oscillation is very clearly shown in the trace.

Answer

No, the trace is too noisy to detect the low signal of the oscillation of the magnet.

Answer

No, the spring oscillation clearly does not happen on ns timescales, the student is measuring the noise in the circuit.

Answer

Yes, we are measuring a higher mode of the oscillation in the oscilloscope, hence the nanosecond scale.

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A student in the class, new to using oscilloscopes, attempts to capture a trace ...

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