Interactive Simulation with a LabVIEW Virtual Instrument Including Magnitude Change , Phase Shift and Aliasing

In addition to real measurements, the LabVIEW is very effective application for interactive what-if simulation in education. A previously developed virtual instrument is further enhanced to simulate measurements while arbitrary changing instrument properties, including the damping, phase shift, magnitude ratio, and natural and sampling frequencies. The effect of virtual instrument properties on any measured signal is observed interactively, both qualitatively (graphically) and quantitatively (numerically). Sampled signal distortion, including the magnitude change, time or phase lag, as well as peculiar interference phenomena, like "beat" wave, aliasing, and others, are effectively demonstrated. The virtual instrument may be set for interactive use over the Internet. Users may interactively change the signal and virtual instrument characteristics and witness first hand that "what we get is not what it is!"