Automotive Electronics Practice Test

At what setting should the volts per division be set to see a throttle position sensor waveform from 0 to 5 volts?

1. 0.5 V/division

2. 1.0 V/division

3. 2.0 V/division

4. 5.0 V/division

The correct answer is: 1.0 V/division

To properly visualize the throttle position sensor waveform, which operates within the range of 0 to 5 volts, you need to set the volts per division appropriately on the oscilloscope. Setting it to 1.0 V/division is optimal because it allows for a clear view of the entire range of the signal. At this setting, you can effectively see the full scale of the sensor's output without compressing the waveform, ensuring that the transitions and details in the signal are distinguishable. With a total possible output of 5 volts, setting the oscilloscope to 1.0 V/division would provide a vertical span of 5 divisions on the screen, perfectly accommodating the range of the throttle position sensor's output. If the volts per division were set to a higher value, like 2.0 V/division or 5.0 V/division, the waveform could either appear too compressed, making it challenging to distinguish smaller variations in the signal, or it could exceed the visible area, limiting the analysis of the waveform dynamics. Therefore, using 1.0 V/division strikes the ideal balance for accurately observing the throttle position sensor's output.