Laboratory Experiment 01 : Operational Amplifiers

Title
Operational Amplifiers

Objectives
Familiar with op-amps and basics. Inverting, non-inverting, and summing amplifiers. Input and output
impedances of op-amp circuits.

Introduction
Op-amps, often referred to as operational amplifiers, are essentially voltage-amplifying devices created
to be utilized with additional components such as capacitors and resistors between their in/out terminals.
In a sense, they are a vital component of analog devices. The operation of the amplifier is determined by
feedback elements like these. Operational Amplifier is the name given to the amplifier because it is
capable of carrying out a wide range of activities (capacitive, resistive, or both).

Figure 1-Op-Amp

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LM741 Operational Amplifier

Figure 2-LM741 pin configuration

The 741 Op-Amp IC is a monolithic integrated circuit, comprising of a general-purpose Operational

Amplifier. The number 741 indicates that this Operational Amplifier IC has 7 functional pins, 4 pins
capable of taking input and 1 output pin. The pin configuration of LM741 is shown in Figure 02. LM741
Op- Amp can provide high voltage gain and can be operated over a wide range of voltages, which makes
it the best choice for use in integrators, summing amplifiers and general feedback applications.

Apparatus
▪ Resistors – 1k, 2k, 10 k
▪ Capacitor – 0.015 𝜇F
▪ Function Generator
▪ LM741 Op-Amps
▪ Breadboard
▪ Multimeter
▪ Oscilloscope

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Pre lab work

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Laboratory Work
 Exercise 1: Op-Amp Comparator

Figure 1.1- Op- Amp comparator

In the laboratory, as the first exercise, above circuit was constructed on a bread board using LM741
Op-Amp IC, two 1kΩ resistors and a 10kΩ resistor. Then 1 kHz sinusoidal signal with a peak voltage of
100 mV was given as the input voltage. After that, input and output signals were observed with the use
of an oscilloscope.

Figure 1.2-Breadoard circuit

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 Figure 1.3-Input signal

Figure 1.4-Output signal

Then, the input signal was changed into a 1 kHz sinusoidal signal with a peak voltage of 5 V and observed
the input and output signals. Obtained input and output signals are shown below.

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 Figure 1.4-Input signal

Figure 1.5-Output signal

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According to these oscilloscope observations, when the peak voltage was 100 mV, output was a straight
line. But when the input voltage changed to a 5V peak voltage, A square waveform was obtained.
When it was at 100 mV, no waveforms were obtained in the oscilloscope. The reason behind that was
the reference voltage was higher than the input voltage.

In the prelab, the computed VREF is 1.091 V. The necessary saturated output waveform's peak voltage
was 12V. However, due to certain practical inaccuracies, a square waveform with a 10V peak voltage
was achieved. Instrumental faults like resistors not having the exact value required or being utilized for
a long time are possible. Op-Amps might make mistakes.

 Exercise 2: Non-Inverting Amplifier

Figure 2.1-Non-inverting Amplifier

In the second exercise, above circuit was constructed in a breadboard using the same components that
used earlier. As the input, 1 kHz sinusoidal signal was given with a peak voltage of 100 mV. Then the
input and output signals were measured using the oscilloscope.

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 Figure 2.2-input signal

Figure2.3-Output signal

Finally, the peak voltage of vin and vout were measured from the simulation. Then using those
measurements, the voltage gain of the circuit was calculated.

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 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 = 1 + (𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 ÷ 𝑉𝑖𝑛)

Voltage gain was 11 and the theoretical voltage was also 11. It was calculated in the prelab work and
both were same.
 Exercise 3: Inverting Amplifier

Figure 3.1-Inverting amplifier

In this exercise, above circuit was constructed using the same components as above. 1 kHz sinusoidal
signal was given as the input with a peak voltage of 100 mV. Then input and output signals were obtained
with the use of the oscilloscope.

Figure 3.2-Input and output signals

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The output voltage was -10 V according to our prelab and according to our waveform the output voltage
is around -9 V

 Exercise 4: Weighted Adder

Figure4.1-Weighted adder

In this exercise, the weighted adder circuit was designed using LM741 Op-Amp, three 1kΩ resistors and
a one 2kΩ resistor. For this activity there were two inputs in the circuit. One input signal was set to 1
kHz sinusoidal signal with a peak voltage of 6V and other one was set to 1 kHz sinusoidal signal with a
peak voltage of 4V. Input signals were given using the function generator while the output was observed
by an oscilloscope. To calculate the output voltage, a multimeter was used.

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 Figure 4.1-Input and Output

Output voltage = -9.84V

Figure 4.2-Output voltage

According to the prelab the output voltage was -7V. But due to some practical errors such as instrumental
errors, resistance in wires and other human errors we got -8.48 V.

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Exercise 5: Op-Amp Integrator

Figure 5.1-Op-Amp integrator

In this exercise the circuit was designed using a LM741 IC, 0.015uF capacitor, 1 and 10 kilo ohms
resistors. The input signal was set to 1 kHz sinusoidal signal with a peak voltage of 100mV. The input
signal was given by the function generator and the input and output signals were obtained using the
oscilloscope. After observing the input and output signals, the 1kHz sinusoidal signal was changed into
1kHz triangular wave and observed the input and output signals according to them. At last, the triangular
wave was changed into a 1kHz square wave and observed the input, output signals.

1. Sinusoidal Wave

Figure 5.2-sine wave

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 2. Square Wave

Figure 5.3-Square wave

3. Triangular Wave

Figure5.4-Trangular wave

The effect of the capacitor on the operation of the circuit

The op amp is compelled to provide an output voltage as the capacitor charges and its resistance gradually
increases. The capacitor's inverting input output is connected to it, so as its impedance increases, the

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voltage across it drops, lowering the current. As a result, until the capacitor is fully charged, the output
voltage increases linearly. The capacitor will initially act as a short circuit when it is discharged, allowing
the most current to pass through the input resistor. As a result, current does not enter the amplifier. The
total voltage gain is less than one due to the low impedance of the capacitor. When a capacitor is fully
charged, it acts as an open circuit and prevents current flow. As a result, op amp saturation occurs. The
output voltage grows in accordance with the value of the RC. To put it simply, the capacitor regulates
the length of the output voltage's saturation period.

Discussion
• Learned about different types of Op Amp circuits such as, Comparator, Inverting Op-Amp, Non-
Inverting Op-Amp, Weighted Summer, and Integrator.
• Got a proper idea about op amp circuit functions according to the inputs.
• Observed the difference between the theoretical values and practical values.
• Learned about the purpose capacitors which was used in integrator circuits.
• Improved the knowledge of the operations of the oscilloscope and the function generator.

References
2022. [online] Available at:
https://www.mathworks.com/help/dsp/ref/chirp.html?s_tid=srchtitle_chirp%2520signal_4 [Accessed
26 September 2022].

2022. [online] Available at:

https://www.electronicstutorials.ws/opamp/opamp_6.html#:~:text=The%20AC%20or%20Continuous%20Op%
2Damp%20Integrator&t
ext=At%20zero%20frequency%20(0Hz)%20or,the%20input%20of%20the%20amplifier. [Accessed 1 October
2022].

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