Trying to understand how operational amplifiers work

[Femme_physics]

Thanks for all the help getting me to understand

 

[jim hardy]

and indeed, (one of your earlier posts posed this question) a hydraulic system CAN amplify a signal. a device called a 'pilot operated valve' will do the trick.

consider for a moment the power steering in your automobile. it amplifies the small force you apply to steering wheel into enough to turn the car's front wheels, even if car is not moving and they must be forced. test that yourself next time you go out- turn the wheel slightly while parked and listen to engine slow down as power steering pump demands power.
your car's power steering box is a hydraulic powered mechanical amplifier changing one finger-power at steering wheel into several muscleman-power at the front wheels, power supply is that belt driven pump.
That's an amplifier you can see feel and hear!

 

[Jiggy-Ninja]

and indeed, (one of your earlier posts posed this question) a hydraulic system CAN amplify a signal. a device called a 'pilot operated valve' will do the trick.

consider for a moment the power steering in your automobile. it amplifies the small force you apply to steering wheel into enough to turn the car's front wheels, even if car is not moving and they must be forced. test that yourself next time you go out- turn the wheel slightly while parked and listen to engine slow down as power steering pump demands power.
your car's power steering box is a hydraulic powered mechanical amplifier changing one finger-power at steering wheel into several muscleman-power at the front wheels, power supply is that belt driven pump.
That's an amplifier you can see feel and hear!

There is electric power steering as well, not just hydraulic. (It's what I test at work)

 

[pairofstrings]

Hi everyone. Sorry to jump in here and ask this following question..
We know that there are two types of Integrated Circuits
1. Digital ICs
2. Linear ICs
Can anyone please tell me if Operational Amplifier(Op-Amp) is a Digital IC or Linear IC? Can you tell me reasons?

 

[vk6kro]

The way that opamps are usually used is in a linear mode.

This means that they have many levels of input signal that will produce many levels of output signal.

A digital circuit generally has two levels of input signal (possibly 5 volts and zero volts) and the output is one of two possible levels too.

There are exceptions to this and some opamp circuits can be digital in output. For example, the Schmitt trigger circuit or the opamp used as a comparator produce just two levels of output signal.

 

[pairofstrings]

The way that opamps are usually used is in a linear mode.

This means that they have many levels of input signal that will produce many levels of output signal.

A digital circuit generally has two levels of input signal (possibly 5 volts and zero volts) and the output is one of two possible levels too.

There are exceptions to this and some opamp circuits can be digital in output. For example, the Schmitt trigger circuit or the opamp used as a comparator produce just two levels of output signal.

That means I can integrate this op-amp circuit in 'Digital Integrated Circuit' and also in 'Linear Integrated Circuit'.

 

[vk6kro]

It is probably best not to classify these things too much.

If you had to clasify opamps then they are mostly linear.

There are always exceptions. Some digital ICs can be used as linear amplifiers, too, but that is not their normal function.