Calculating V0 on a Complex Op Amp Circuit

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the output voltage (V0) in a complex op-amp circuit. The original poster attempted to simplify the circuit but was informed that their simplification was incorrect, as both voltage sources work in the same direction rather than against each other. The superposition principle was suggested as a method to solve for V0 by analyzing the circuit with one source at a time. After applying this method, the poster calculated V0 to be -8V, confirming their understanding of the circuit's behavior. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly identifying the relationships between voltage sources and resistors in circuit analysis.
dbakg00
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Homework Statement





See attached picture. My objective is to calculate V0 on the 2k resistor. I'm used to seeing op amps that are more simple looking. I'm trying to reduce this op amp circuit to a simpler one (my attempt is the bottom picture). My question is: did I simplify the circuit correctly? I subtracted the 1v from the 2v source since they are working against each other and I added the resistors since they are in series. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 

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Those two sources do not work against each other, they both have the same direction.
 
How could they both have the same direction? The negative terminal of the 1v touches the negative terminal of the 2v. Sorry if this is a dumb question...I'm new to circuits.
 
dbakg00 said:
How could they both have the same direction? The negative terminal of the 1v touches the negative terminal of the 2v. Sorry if this is a dumb question...I'm new to circuits.

Use superposition principle.

1. let V1 = 0 and solve for Vout.
2. let V2 = 0 and solve for Vout.
3. add the two Vout s.

Your "simplified" circuit is invalid, sorry.
 
I agree, your simplified circuit is not the same. Try calculating the voltage at the inverting input of the op amp of the top circuit and show us what you get.
 
rude man said:
Use superposition principle.

1. let V1 = 0 and solve for Vout.
2. let V2 = 0 and solve for Vout.
3. add the two Vout s.

Your "simplified" circuit is invalid, sorry.

So if I let the 1V source = 0, do I still consider both the 5k and the 2.5k resistors? I know that in an inverting amplifier, vo = (-R2/R1)vi. R2 is obviously 10k. What is confusing me is what value I would use for R1. If I did the superposition as you suggested, when I killed the 1V source, would R1 = 5k? And then when I killed the 2V source, R1 = 2.5k? Am I on the right track?
 
When I do superposition, I get the following:

(short circuiting the 1V source)
V01 = Vs1(-R2/R1)
V01 = 2(-10/2)
v01 = -4 V


(short circuiting the 2V source)
V02 = Vs2(-r2/R1)
V02 = 1(-10/2.5)
V02 = -4 V

V0 = V01 + V02
V0 = (-4) + (-4)
V0 = -8

how does that look?
 
dbakg00 said:
So if I let the 1V source = 0, do I still consider both the 5k and the 2.5k resistors? I know that in an inverting amplifier, vo = (-R2/R1)vi. R2 is obviously 10k. What is confusing me is what value I would use for R1. If I did the superposition as you suggested, when I killed the 1V source, would R1 = 5k? And then when I killed the 2V source, R1 = 2.5k? Am I on the right track?

Yes.
 
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dbakg00 said:
When I do superposition, I get the following:

(short circuiting the 1V source)
V01 = Vs1(-R2/R1)
V01 = 2(-10/2)
v01 = -4 V


(short circuiting the 2V source)
V02 = Vs2(-r2/R1)
V02 = 1(-10/2.5)
V02 = -4 V

V0 = V01 + V02
V0 = (-4) + (-4)
V0 = -8

how does that look?

Very good. You made a typo on V02 (2nd line) but still came up with the right answer.
 
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Thanks to all for the help!
 
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dbakg00 said:
How could they both have the same direction? The negative terminal of the 1v touches the negative terminal of the 2v. Sorry if this is a dumb question...I'm new to circuits.
They are "in parallel" - not exactly due to the resistors, but they share the same direction of voltage between ground and the negative input of the op amp.
 
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