Which section of the oscilloscope adjusts the characteristics of the displayed sweep?

The section of the oscilloscope that adjusts the characteristics of the displayed sweep is the sweep circuitry. This circuitry is responsible for controlling how the oscilloscope generates and displays the horizontal time axis of the waveform on the screen. It dictates the rate at which the electron beam moves across the screen from left to right, thereby determining the time scale of the displayed signal.

When using an oscilloscope, the sweep circuitry allows the user to adjust parameters such as the time per division, effectively zooming in or out on a signal to observe its details or overall shape clearly. This feature is essential for accurately analyzing signals in different time domains, whether they are fast-changing waveforms or slower signals.

The other sections mentioned serve different purposes: for instance, the trigger circuitry stabilizes the waveform on the screen by synchronizing the start of the sweep to a specific aspect of the incoming signal. The time base circuit is closely related and interacts with the sweep circuitry, but it is not solely responsible for determining the characteristics of the displayed sweep. Input circuitry focuses on amplifying and conditioning the incoming signal before it is displayed, which does not involve adjusting the sweep characteristics directly.