Experiment Description

Experiment

Experiment E23    Operational Amplifier: Open-loop Configuration


Objectives
  • Investigate the characteristics of an operational amplifier in open-loop configuration
  • Study the two saturation states of an operational amplifier
  • Study how a sine wave can be converted into a square wave
  • Study the operation of a voltage comparator
Description
In this activity, you will study the characteristic of an operational amplifier in open-loop configuration. You will construct a sine wave to square wave convertor and a voltage comparator.

In Experiment 1, you will study the behaviour of an operational amplifier in open-loop configuration. You will connect with (1) V- earthed, (2) V+ earthed, and (3) V+ maintained at 3 V. In each case, the voltage of the other terminal will vary over a large range.

In Experiment 2, you will make use of the open-loop configuration of an op-amp to convert a sine wave to a square wave. There are three similar connections of the op-amp and they will give even or uneven mark/space.

In Experiment 3, you will study visually the variation of the output from an op-amp driven by an alternating current.

Apparatus
operational amplifier unit [1]
dual 15 V d.c. power supply [1]
voltmeter (5 V, 10 V and 50 V) [2]
double beam CRO [1]
signal generator [1]
battery box with 2 dry cells [1]
LED module (red LED, green LED) [1]
Experiment