Laboratory Exercise 4

Operational-amplifier circuits

Purpose
To construct several op-amp circuits using negative feedback for voltage and current
amplication, and to measure their output offset, noise, and gain as a function of
frequency. To gain familiarity with the properties and limitations of the operational
amplier (op amp) such as open-loop gain, leakage currents, the effects of heating,
offset voltage, noise, and bandwidth.

Equipment
Superstrip circuit board with ground plane and connections for ground, +5 V, 12 V
Two 10-F 25-V electrolytic capacitors (put between power and ground at circuit

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board binding posts)

Six 0.1-F CK-05 bypass capacitors (put between power and ground on all chips)
Three LF356 op amps
Oscilloscope
Three 20-k trimpots (op-amp offset adjust)
Six 1-k resistors
Three 100-k resistors
One 10-M resistor
+5-V, 12-V power supplies
Wave generator
Heat gun (shared with other laboratory groups)
Dial thermometer

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Laboratory Exercise 4: Operational-amplifier circuits

Not
connected
Balance

Input

Input

12 V

8
7
6
5

Not connected
+12 V
Output
Balance

Balance
Input

Metal tab
7 +12 V
6 Output

Input 3

Balance

12 V

Laboratory Figure 4.1 LF356 pinout for dual inline package (DIP) and T0-5 metal can (top views).
+12 V
20 k
2
3
12 V
0.1 F

1
5
LF 356

7
4

+12 V
0.1 F

Laboratory Figure 4.2 LF356 external connections. The bypass capacitors at pins 4 and 7 are
required for circuit stability and noise reduction. The trimpot between pins 1 and 5 is used to adjust
output offset.

Background
The operational amplier is one of the most important building blocks in analogcircuit design and is used both for amplication and ltering. Chapter 2 describes the
fundamental properties of the op amp and the effect of negative feedback on gain,
bandwidth, and input impedance.
The pin assignments for the LF356 op amp that you will be using is shown in
Laboratory Figure 4.1. Pins 1, 4, 5, and 7 are to be connected as shown in Laboratory
Figure 4.2.
Note: For all laboratory exercises, connect 10-F electrolytic capacitors between each power-supply
voltage (+5, +12, and 12 V) and ground at the binding posts of your circuit board. Observe capacitor
polarity! Electrolytics can explode when connected backwards! These capacitors help stabilize the
supply voltage levels at low frequencies (such as 60 Hz), but are not effective in reducing spikes caused
by fast (<1 s) circuit-switching transients. To reduce the fast spikes, connect 0.1-F capacitors
between power and ground at all integrated circuits.

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V1
Wave
generator

100 k

V2

1 k

Laboratory Figure 4.3 Small-signal generator circuit.

Additional reading
Section 2.2 Operational amplier circuits
Section 2.3 Op-amp characteristics

Procedure
1.

Small-signal generator
Construct the small-signal generator circuit shown in Laboratory Figure 4.3. It consists
of a simple 100-k/1-k resistor divider, and produces an output voltage V2 = 0.01V1 ,
provided that its output is connected to a circuit with input impedance 1 k. Measure
the resistors accurately, since V2 is small and difcult to measure directly. Instead, for
the following sections, compute V2 from your measured value of V1 and the resistor
values.

2.

Inverting amplifier with gains = 100 and 1

Construct the amplier circuit shown in Laboratory Figure 4.4 on your superstrip
breadboard with R1 = 1 k, but do not connect the 20-k offset adjust trimpot yet.
You will use R2 = 100 k for gain = 100 and R2 = 1 k for gain = 1. Laboratory
Figure 4.1 shows the pinout diagram of the LF356 op amp, and Laboratory Figure 4.2
shows the connection for pins 1, 4, 5, and 7.
2.1 dc offset with R2 = 100 k. Connect the input V2 to ground, and do the following:
1. Unadjusted offset: Record the output offset voltage V0 (20-k offset-adjust trimpot
not connected).

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Laboratory Exercise 4: Operational-amplifier circuits

R2

V3
V2

1 k

2
3

LF356

V0

R1

Laboratory Figure 4.4 Inverting amplier with gain G = V0 /V2 = R2 /1 k. See Laboratory
Figure 4.1 for pinout. Connect pins 1, 4, 5, and 7 as shown in Laboratory Figure 4.2.

2. Offset range: Connect the 20-k trimpot as shown in Laboratory Figure 4.2 and
record V0 for the two extreme values of the trimpot (full clockwise and full counterclockwise).
Note: Twenty turns of the adjusting screw will be required.

3. Temperature effect: Adjust the trimpot for V0 = 0 V. Heat the op amp about 10 C
(check with dial thermometer), and record V0 .
4. Reproducibility: Wait about 5 min, for the op amp to return to room temperature,
and again record V0 .
5. Leakage currents: Adjust the trimpot for V0 = 0 V. Temporarily change R1 to
10 M and record V0 . Then set R1 = 1 k.
Note: In the preceding section you will have measured a total of six offset voltages.

2.2 Noise with R2 = 100 k. With R1 = 1 k and V2 connected to ground, adjust

the trimpot for V0 = 0 V. Connect V0 to the oscilloscope input and record the amplitude
of the output noise (extreme oscilloscope gain required). Distinguish between random
fuzz and repeating waveforms such as 60-Hz interference. Repeat for R1 = 10 M.
Note: The rms measurement feature of the digital oscilloscope combines random and periodic
deviations from the average.

2.3 Small-signal gain with R2 = 100 k. Replace R1 = 1 k and connect the

input of the amplier circuit (V2 ) to the small-signal generator output (Laboratory
Figure 4.3). Adjust the generator output for a 1-kHz sine wave with V1 = 1 V peakto-peak (pp) as seen on your oscilloscope. Measure the pp sine-wave amplitudes
of V1 , V2 , and V0 at 10 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz, and 1 MHz. Note the
following: (1) the wave generator amplitude V1 will vary somewhat as the frequency is
changed, and (2) the op-amp amplier circuit has a 1-k input impedance.
2.4 Open-loop gain with R2 = 100 k. Increase the generator output V1 to 10 V
pp and measure V0 and V3 at 10 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz, and 1 MHz

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(extreme oscilloscope gain required for V3 ). In the analysis section you will compute
the open loop gain A as V0 /V3 .
2.5 dc offset with R2 = 1 k. Make the following measurements.
1. Unadjusted offset: Disconnect the 20-k offset-adjust trimpot and record the output
offset voltage V0 .
2. Temperature effect: Replace the 20-k offset-adjust trimpot and adjust the trimpot for
V0 = 0 V. Heat the op amp about 10 C (check with dial thermometer), and record V0 .
Note: In the preceding section you will have measured two offset voltages.

3.

Noninverting amplifier with gains = 101 and 1

Construct the circuit shown in Laboratory Figure 4.5, but do not connect the 20-k
trimpot yet. You will use R2 = 100 k for gain = 101 and R2 = 0 k for gain = 1.
Laboratory Figure 4.1 shows the pinout diagram of the LF356 op amp, and Laboratory
Figure 4.2 shows the connection for pins 1, 4, 5, and 7.
3.1 dc offset with R2 = 100 k. Connect V2 to ground with a resistor R1 = 1 k,
and do the following:
1. Unadjusted offset: Record the output offset voltage V0 (20-k offset-adjust trimpot
not connected).
2. Offset range: Connect the 20-k trimpot, as shown in Laboratory Figure 4.2 and
record V0 for the two extreme values of the trimpot (full clockwise and full counterclockwise).
Note: Twenty turns of the adjusting screw will be required.

3. Temperature effect: Adjust the trimpot for V0 = 0 V. Heat the op amp about 10 C
(check with dial thermometer), and record V0 .
4. Reproducibility: Wait about 5 min for the op amp to return to room temperature, and
again record V0 .
5. Leakage currents: Adjust the trimpot for V0 = 0 V. Temporarily change R1 to 10 M
and record V0 .
V2

3
2

R1

LF356

V0

R2

1 k

Laboratory Figure 4.5 Noninverting amplier with gain G = V0 /V2 = (R2 + 1 k)/1 k.

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Laboratory Exercise 4: Operational-amplifier circuits

3.2 Noise with R2 = 100 k. With R1 = 1 k between V2 and ground, record the
output noise as you did in procedure section 2.2. Repeat for R1 = 10 M.
3.3 Small-signal gain with R2 = 100 k. Remove R1 and connect the input of the
amplier circuit (V2 ) to the small-signal generator output. Adjust the generator output
for a 1-kHz sine wave with V1 = 1 V peak-to-peak (pp) as seen on your oscilloscope.
Measure the pp sine-wave amplitudes of V1 , V2 , and V0 at 10 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz,
10 kHz, 100 kHz, and 1 MHz.
3.4 dc offset with R2 = 0 k. Replace R2 with a wire and make the following
measurements:
1. Unadjusted offset: Disconnect the 20-k offset-adjust trimpot and record the output
offset voltage V0 .
2. Temperature effect: Replace the 20-k offset-adjust trimpot and adjust the trimpot for
V0 = 0 V. Heat the op amp about 10 C (check with dial thermometer), and record V0 .

Laboratory report
1.

Setup
To make your report a complete description of the laboratory exercise, include copies
of the diagrams provided here. Be sure to indicate any variations from the suggested
setup.

2.

Data summary
Tabulate your measurements and summarize your observations from procedure sections
2 and 3.

3.

Analysis
3.1 Output offset voltages. For the two amplier circuits, tabulate the six measured
output offset voltages in procedure sections 2.1 and 3.1; and the three output offset
voltages in procedure sections 2.5 and 3.5. Using the measured unadjusted output
offset voltages for gains G = 1 and G = 100, and VTOO = GVRTI + VRTO , compute
VRTI (offset voltage with respect to input) and VRTO (offset voltage with respect to
output) for the op amp. Compute the change of input and output offset voltages with
temperature (in microvolts per degrees celsius). Compute the leakage current using the
change in input offset voltage that occurred when the 10-M resistor was used.
3.2 Noise. From your measurements of closed-loop gain G, rms output noise Vrms ,
and bandwidth  f (3-dB frequency) for the two circuits, compute the input noise gure

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for 1-k input resistors:

D=

Vrms

G f

which is usually expressed in the units nV/ Hz.

Repeat for the noninverting and buffer ampliers when the 10-M resistor was used.
3.3 Bode amplitude plot. From the small-signal gain data you took for the two
op-amp circuits (procedure sections 2.3 and 3.3), tabulate gain G = V0 /V2 versus
frequency. Either plot G versus frequency on loglog graph paper or plot decibels
(dB) = 20 log10 (|G|) versus frequency on semilog graph paper.
3.4 Open-loop gain. From your measurements of V0 and V3 in procedure section
2.4, tabulate and plot the open-loop gain of the LF356 as a function of frequency. For
comparison, include open-loop gain data from the LF356 data sheet.
3.5 Summary table. Compare your measurements with the claims in the data sheets:
input bias current, input and output voltage offset, adjustment range, temperature dependence, open-loop gainfrequency product. For denitions of these and other parameters,
see Chapter 2.

4.

Discussion and conclusions

4.1 Based on your data and analysis of the two amplier circuits, discuss how the
characteristics of the real op amp differed from those of the ideal op amp.
4.2 Discuss how negative feedback is used in this laboratory exercise to establish a
desired gain that is constant over a range of frequencies.
4.3 Compare the gain behavior of the two amplier circuits at high frequencies.
4.4 Discuss the difculties of using the circuit in Laboratory Figure 4.4 to measure
the open-loop gain at low frequencies.
4.5 Discuss situations where each of the two amplier circuits would best be used.

5.

Questions
5.1 When you were measuring the small-signal gain in procedure sections 2.3 and
3.3, why were V2 and V0 less for the inverting amplier than for the noninverting
amplier?
5.2 Why did V2 increase for the inverting amplier at high frequencies? (Hint: See
Problem 2.1.)
5.3 How well does your measured open-loop unity-gain frequency agree with the
data sheet?
5.4 How accurately do you think you were able to measure the open-loop gain at
100 kHz? Are your data consistent with the data sheet?
5.5 Find the Open Loop Frequency Response in the LF356 op-amp data sheets.
Prepare a table with three columns: (1) frequency = 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz,

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Laboratory Exercise 4: Operational-amplifier circuits

1 MHz, and 10 MHz; (2) open loop voltage gain; and (3) the product of the two
(i.e. gainbandwidth product).
Note: Convert the open-loop voltage gain from decibel (as provided in the data sheets) to numerical
gain.

6.

Laboratory data sheets

Include your handwritten data sheets (or a copy), which should consist of a log of
the procedures that you used, any special circumstances, and the measurements you
recorded manually.