Learning Path
Question & Answer1
Understand Question2
Review Options3
Learn Explanation4
Explore TopicChoose the Best Answer
A
The input voltage exceeds the op-amp's input common-mode range.
B
The gain of the op-amp is set too low for the application.
C
The feedback resistor is too high, causing instability.
D
The op-amp is operating within its specified voltage range.
Understanding the Answer
Let's break down why this is correct
Answer
When the output of an op‑amp suddenly rises to the positive supply rail, it usually means the amplifier can no longer provide a linear response because the input signal or the feedback network is forcing it beyond its operating range. A common culprit is that the input voltage or the gain set by the resistors pushes the output past the supply limits, so the op‑amp “clips” at the rail. Another possibility is that the negative feedback loop is broken—perhaps a resistor has failed or a pin is shorted—so the amplifier behaves like a simple voltage follower and saturates. For example, if you feed a 10 V peak signal into a single‑supply 5 V op‑amp with a gain of 2, the output would try to reach 20 V, but the amplifier can only swing to about +5 V, causing it to clip at that rail.
Detailed Explanation
When the input voltage goes outside the op‑amp’s input common‑mode range, the device cannot amplify it correctly. Other options are incorrect because Having a low overall gain does not force the output to hit the supply rail; it merely makes the output smaller; A high feedback resistor can make a loop unstable, but that instability usually produces oscillation, not a hard limit at the supply rail.
Key Concepts
Op-Amp Output Saturation
Input Common-Mode Range
Signal Clipping
Topic
Op-Amp Output Saturation
Difficulty
hard level question
Cognitive Level
understand
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Question 1What happens to the output of an operational amplifier (op-amp) when the input signal exceeds the power supply voltage, leading to output saturation?
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Question 6What happens to the output of an operational amplifier (op-amp) when the input signal exceeds the power supply voltage, leading to output saturation?
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