Solving the Op-Amp Problem

Analyzing Circuits with Ideal Op-Amps

It is highly recommended to use Nodal Analysis!
Some advice:
Prior to performing the nodal analysis, label the input currents
to the op-amp to be 0A, and the input voltage to be 0 V:
0A

0V
-

0A
This serves as a nice reminder to the properties of the op-amp
that impact the nodal analysis
The 0 V differential voltage means the nodes at the input of
the op-amp share the same node voltage
OA input current impacts KCL at the input nodes
The last constraint to remember, is that you can never
perform KCL on a node that is at the output of an op-amp.

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky
 Op-Amp Nodal Analysis
Recipe for Op-Amp Nodal analysis
1. Identify the reference node. Label this node as 0 V!
2. Label nodes connected to the input of the op-amp, applying the
op-amp voltage constraint: They share the same node voltage.
0A
3. Label all other non-reference nodes Va


4. Apply voltage constraints 0V

-
V0
a. Constrain all node voltages by voltage sources Va 0A
b. Any op-amp node (and its differential partner) connected to the
reference node should be labeled as 0 V
5. Count your number of unknown node voltages. This will = the
number of KCL equations you will need.
6. Apply KCL at all non-reference nodes not connected to a
voltage source and not connected to the output terminal of
the op-amp and not directly connected to ground.
7. Solve the resultant linear system of equations for the node
voltages

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky
 Example

Find Vo for the op-amp circuit:

Solution:
Nodal Analysis
1. Label Ref. Node as 0V.

2. Label the input nodes of the op-amp by applying the op-amp

constraint that the differential voltage = 0, therefore, the
two input nodes share the same voltage value (labeled below
as Va).

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky
 Example, continued
3, 4. Label all the remaining non-reference nodes, and apply
voltage constraints due to all voltage sources

5. Count the # of unknowns. Here, there are two: Vˆa , Vˆo

6. Identify the nodes to apply KCL two (we need two). These
cannot be connected to the reference node or a voltage source,
or the output of the op-amp. Two such nodes fit this
description.

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky
 Example, continued
6. KCL:

7. Solve:
Vˆa  0 Vˆa  Vˆ0 Vˆa  120 Vˆa  0
1.  0= 0 2.  0= 0
10 k 40 k 10 k  j10 k

 j10 k
From 2: Vˆa  120  6  6 j V=8.485-45
10 k  j10 k

 1 1 ˆ
Then from 1: Vˆ0  40 k    Va  5Va  42.425-45 V
ˆ
 10 k 40 k 
The solution is now complete!

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky
 Example 2

Find Vo as a function of Vs1 and Vs2:

Solution:
steps 1 & 2:

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky
 Example 2, continued
3., 4. It is observed that Va(+) is connected to ground.
Therefore, Va(+) = Va(-) = 0 V! Label all other nodes:

5. There are 3 unknowns: Vb, Vc, Vo

Solution:
6. KCL at all non-reference nodes, not connected to a
voltage source or to the output of an op-amp. There should
be 3 of them. Can you find them?

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky
 Example 2, continued

KCL:
0  Vˆs1 0  Vˆc 0  Vˆo Vˆb  Vˆc Vˆb  Vˆo Vˆb  Vˆs 2 Vˆb  0
1.    0  0 2.   0  0 3.  00
Z1 Z2 Z3 Z5 Z4 Z6 Z7
Solution:

Z2Z3Z4 Z3Z7  Z4  Z5 
Vˆo  Vˆs1 Vˆs 2
Z1  Z2Z4  Z3Z5   Z2Z4  Z3Z5  Z6  Z7 

EE 211/221 S. Gedney, University of Kentucky