Circuit Theory #31 | Operational Amplifiers - Op-Amp Basics

Instructor: Dr. Süleyman Burak ÇELİK

Thirty-first lesson in the Circuit Theory series. This lesson introduces operational amplifiers before numerical circuit analysis. We explain what an op-amp represents, how the chip maps to the schematic symbol, what the ideal op-amp assumptions mean, why the output is limited by supply rails, and how to recognize the first inverting op-amp circuit. Main goals: - Understand what an operational amplifier is used for - Identify the inverting input, non-inverting input, output, and supply pins - Learn the ideal assumptions: very large gain, infinite input resistance, zero input current, and zero output resistance - Remember that practical output voltage is limited by the supply rails - Recognize the basic inverting op-amp topology: `Vi -> R1 -> (-)`, `Rf` feedback from `Vo` to the same node, and `(+)` grounded Next lesson: We calculate the gain of the inverting op-amp circuit.