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Operational Amplifiers Basics
hard

In a differentiator circuit using an operational amplifier, how does the gain relate to the differential input voltage?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

The gain is constant and independent of the differential input voltage.

B

The gain increases linearly with the differential input voltage.

C

The gain is proportional to the rate of change of the differential input voltage.

D

The gain is determined by the feedback resistor only.

Understanding the Answer

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Answer

The output of a differential amplifier is the product of its closed‑loop gain and the difference between the two input voltages, so the output voltage is simply the differential input voltage multiplied by the gain. In other words, \(V_{\text{out}} = A_d \,(V_+ - V_-)\). Thus, if the gain is 5 and the two inputs differ by 2 mV, the output will be 10 mV. The amplifier will saturate if the product exceeds its supply limits, so the usable differential range is limited by the supply rails. This linear relationship lets you calculate the output directly from the differential input and the chosen gain.

Detailed Explanation

The circuit produces an output that is proportional to how fast the input voltage changes. Other options are incorrect because Some think the amplifier simply scales the input voltage; It is easy to think that a bigger voltage means a bigger gain.

Key Concepts

gain
differential input
differentiator
Topic

Operational Amplifiers Basics

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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