Physics 405 Name__________________________

Determination of Amplifier Gain and Bandwidth

Material Required: DigiDesigner or Cadet electronic breadboard, OP AMP Type 307 or 741,
resistors (a 1KΩ, two 10KΩ, and either a 91KΩ or 100KΩ), 0.2µF capacitor, signal generator, and
two channel oscilloscope.

Introduction
An operational amplifier, or op-amp, is a feedback amplifier that is
capable of greatly amplifying an input signal. This amplification is inputs
referred to as gain. The basic schematic of an op-amp is shown at the + output
right. The two “golden rules” for op-amp operation are: _
a) The output attempts to do whatever is necessary to make the
voltage difference between the inputs (+ and -) 0.
b) The inputs to the op-amp draw no current.
The “attempts to do whatever is necessary” clause means that the op-amp can not output a signal
that is outside the range of the two power supply lines that are connected to the chip but are not
displayed in the figure. For now, do not worry about the + and - distinction, it deals with whether
the output signal will be inverted or noninverted.
To create feedback, the output is usually
connected to one of the inputs, usually through a
+
resistor or series of resistors. For example, if the _
output is connected directly to the - input (as
shown in the figure), then when a signal is
connected to +, the output must be unity gain (1x)
and the opposite sign so that the + and - input
R2
voltage difference cancel. You will demonstrate
this in part 1. R1
Gain is obtained by setting up the op-amp as _
shown at the right. Since the inputs draw no Vin
current, then: I2 = I1 or, Vout/R2 = -Vin/R1. Thus, + Vout
the gain should be: Vout/Vin = -R2/R1. The gain
can also be expressed in dB.

A final note, the gain of the op-amp and its

bandwidth are directly related, such that their product is typically a constant. This means, for
instance, that if the gain is increased by a factor of 2, then the bandwidth decreases by about a
factor of 2.

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1. Install the 8 pin OP AMP (307 or 741) onto the breadboard such that IC straddles the gap that
runs through the center of a white panel. Note that the notch or dot marks the end with pin 1.
Adjust the positive voltage to +15V (or as near to this as possible) and wire it to pin 7. Adjust
the negative voltage to -15V (or as near to this as possible) and wire it to pin4. Connect the re-
maining wires as shown below. The numbers correspond to the pin numbers on the chip. The
triangle and +/- signs represent the amplifier and its inputs.
8 7 6 5

Top View
2 +15V
- 7
1 2 3 4 6
Generator
Signal 3 + 4 -15V to channel 2
In
to channel 1

The input signal from the function generator is connected to pin 3 of the OP AMP. Also connect
pin 3 to a scope probe for channel 1 to monitor the signal. Connect a wire from pin 6 to pin 2
and from pin 6 to scope channel 2.

When everything is connected, adjust the sine wave of the generator to be about 1V peak-to-
peak at 100Hz. Adjust the trigger and observe the input and output simultaneously on the scope
using the two channels at once.

dB Gain is given by: 20 log ( V out / V in ).

Question: Why is there a 20 and not a 10 in the equation?

NOTE: Sketch the output signal for parts 1,2,3, and 4. Does it
match the form of the input signal in each case? Should it?

a) What is the gain: Vpp output / Vpp input ____________ dB value ________

b) Is the OP AMP output signal the same as the input or inverted?___________________

This device is now acting as a unity-gain noninverting amplifier. Does this agree with your
findings?

c) Increase the frequency, holding the input amplitude constant as you do so. You will find

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 that at higher frequencies the output begins to decrease. Find the -3dB point (the frequency
at which the gain is 3 dB down from the mid-band gain region.) This corresponds to a de-
crease in voltage by a factor of 0.707 (since power is related to the square of the voltage). If
the low end of the bandpass of the amplifier is DC (0 Hz), what is the amplifier’s bandwidth?
________________________________

2. Build this circuit now, leaving the power lines as before.

10KΩ (brown-black-orange)

10KΩ
Generator 2 +15V
Signal 7
- 6
In
3 + 4 -15V to channel 2

to channel 1

a) What is the gain: Vpp output / Vpp input ____________ dB value ________

b) Is the OP AMP output signal the same as the input or inverted?___________________

c) Bandwidth ____________________________________

3. Replace the 10KΩ resistor between pin 2 and 6 by either a 91K or 100KΩ resistor. (brown-
black-yellow)

a) What is the gain: Vpp output / Vpp input ____________ dB value ________

b) Is the OP AMP output signal the same as the input or inverted?___________________

c) Bandwidth ____________________________________

4. Replace the remaining 10Ω resistor by a 1KΩ resistor (brown-black-red). (If the output
becomes distorted, reduce the input signal strength.)

a) What is the gain: Vpp output / Vpp input ____________ dB value ________

b) Is the OP AMP output signal the same as the input or inverted?___________________

c) Bandwidth ____________________________________

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5. Connect the circuit shown here, which adds a 0.22 µF capacitor in series with the 10ΚΩ
resistor.
100KΩ
0.22 µF
10KΩ
Generator 2 +15V
7
Signal - 6
In
3 + 4 -15V to channel 2

to channel 1

What is the lower frequency cutoff now?(it is no longer 0Hz.)_____________

The capacitor has removed the DC signal component from the circuit. This is how the AC-DC
switch on the oscilloscope functions.

6. Run a a square wave of various frequencies through the amplifier constructed in part 5.

a) What is the difference with the capacitor present, and when it is shorted out or replaced by
a wire? Draw a sketch of the two waves looking for the difference at both low and high
frequencies.

b) At high frequencies, the corners of the square wave become distorted. Try to observe this
distortion of the wave. Sketch the signal wave at high frequencies.

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