Experiment

1
Operational Amplifiers
Objectives
To construct and operate a comparator circuit using an operational amplifier.
To construct and operate an inverting operational amplifier.
To construct and operate a summing operational amplifier.

Required Materials
(1) dual power supply (115V and 215V)

(1) 2.2KV resistor

(4) 22KV resistors

(3) 10KV potentiometers

(1) 741 linear integrated circuit

(3) 10KV resistors

(1) 27KV resistor

(1) voltmeter

Introduction
Digital circuits function by using signals that are at one of two distinct voltage levels. The other
classification of electronic circuits is analog. These devices function by operating with signals that
vary anywhere between the low and high extreme voltages supplied by the power supply. Since
these devices produce an output that is exactly proportional to the input, they are known as linear
circuits. One common type of linear circuit is the operational amplifier. Also known as an op amp, it is
capable of performing many functions. Two functions, comparing and amplifying, will be examined.
Figure 1-1 shows the symbol of an op amp. It has two inputs. One of them is called an inverting input
and is labeled with a minus sign. The other is called a noninverting input and is labeled with a positive
sign. The output lead is located at the apex of the triangle.

+V
Inverting
Input
Noninverting
Input

Output
VOUT
+
V
(a)

Figure 1-1

Offset
Null

In

+In

8 NC
741

V+

Out

Offset
Null

(b)

Operational amplifier (a) Standard schematic symbol (b) Pin diagram

Experiment 1
+5 V

Operational Amplifiers

+5 V
+6.25 V
10 K

V1

10 K

10 K

10 K

V2

741
+
6.25 V

INPUTS
V1
+4
+2
+1
+4
0
+3

VOUT

RL=
10 k

V2
+1
+3
0
+4
+1
+2

VOUT
(V)

(b)

(a)

Figure 1-2

Background InformationComparator
The op amp in Figure 1-2(a) is capable of comparing the voltage applied to one input to
the voltage applied to the other input. When the voltage at the noninverting terminal is
greater than the voltage at the inverting terminal, the output will go to an approximate
15V saturation potential. When the voltage at input (2) is greater than the voltage at
input (1), the output will go to an approximate 25V saturation level. When the voltage
at both input terminals are the same, the output will go to 0V.

Procedure
Step 1
Assemble the circuit shown in Figure 1-2(a).
Step 2
Fill in the output portion of the table in part (b) by applying the voltages listed in the input section.
Background InformationInverting Operational Amplifier
Figure 1-3(a) shows an inverting op amp. An input resistor (RIN) is connected between the
input terminal and the (2) op amp lead, and a feedback resistor (RF) is connected between
the output and the (2) input. The name of the op amp circuit is derived from the way
in which it operates. When a voltage is applied to the (2) input lead, a voltage of the
opposite polarity develops at the output. The gain of the inverting op amp is determined
by the resistance ratio of RF compared to RIN. The larger RF becomes compared to RIN,
the larger the gain.
RF = 10 K
+6.25 V
RIN = 2.2 K
2V

VG

OP
AMP

VIN
+0.2v
0.4v
0v
+0.32v

VOUT

VOUT

(b)
6.25 V
(a)

Figure 1-3

VIN
+0.3v
0.15v
2.0v
+0.4v

VOUT

(c)

Experiment 1

Operational Amplifiers

The output voltage can be determined by the following formula:

VOUT 5

VIN
3 RF
RIN

where RF 5 Feedback Resistor

RIN 5 Input Resistor
VIN 5 Input Voltage

Step 3
Assemble the circuit in Figure 1-3(a).
Step 4
Fill in the output portion of the table in part (b) by applying the voltages listed in the input section.
Use the formula to verify that the measured voltages are correct.
Step 5
Change RF in Figure 1-3(a) to 27KV and RIN to 10KV.
Step 6
Fill in the output portion of the table in part (c) by applying the voltages listed in the input section.
Use the formula to verify that the measured voltages are correct.
Background InformationSumming Amplifier
Figure 1-4(a) shows an op amp circuit with more than one input tied at its inverting
input lead. Called a summing amplifier, it is capable of adding the algebraic sum of all
the input voltages applied. The sum of these voltages are inverted to the opposite polarity.

10 K
10 K

10 K

V1

R1 = 22 K

V2

R2 = 22 K

V3

R3 = 22 K

RF = 22 K
+15 v

OP
AMP
+
15 v

(a)

Input Voltage
V1 V2 V3
+1V +1V +1V
+1V 1V 1V
+2V 1V
V 1V
3V 1
+3V
+1V +2V 1V

Output Voltage
Measured
Calculated

(b)

Figure 1-4

VOUT

Experiment 1

Operational Amplifiers

Each of the summing input resistors are tied together, and a 22KV feedback resistor
is used. The following calculations show how to determine the voltage at the output
terminal:
IR 1 5
IR 2 5

VR1
R1
VR2
R2
VR3

IR 3 5

R3

2V
5 0.09mA
22K

1V
5 0.49mA
22K

3V
5 0.136mA
22K

IRF 5 0.09mA 1 0.45mA 1 0.136mA 5 0.271mA

VOUT 5 IRF 3 RF
5 0.271mA 3 22K 5 26V

Step 7
Assemble the circuit shown in Figure 1-4(a).
Step 8
Fill in the output portion of the table in part (b) labeled measured by applying the voltages listed in
the input section.
Step 9
Using the formula to determine the output of a summing amplifier, verify that the measured values
are correct.

Experiment Questions
1. A/n
(analog, digital) signal can vary at any value between the low and high voltage
range supplied by the power supply.
2. A

(linear, digital) circuit produces signals that are analog.

3. When the voltage applied to the noninverting terminal of an op amp comparator is

(less, greater) than the voltage at the inverting input, the output will be driven into positive
saturation.
4. If 12V is applied to an inverting op amp that has an input resistance of 2KV and a feedback
resistance of 6KV, the voltage at the output is
volts, and the polarity is
(2, 1).
5. The summing op amp in Figure 1-4 has the following voltages applied to the inputs: 12V, 13V,
and 0V. What is the output voltage?