- Differentiator Op Amp Definition: A differentiator op amp circuit produces an output signal proportional to the input signal’s rate of change.
- Basic Circuit Diagram: It involves an inverting amplifier with a capacitor at the input terminal.
- Ideal Op Amp Conditions: In an ideal op amp, the voltage at both terminals is the same, and no current flows into these terminals.
- Kirchhoff Current Law Application: Applying Kirchhoff’s Current Law at the circuit’s node helps determine the output voltage.
- Output Voltage Relationship: The output voltage is the derivative of the input voltage, showing proportional change.
An op amp differentiator is an inverting amplifier with a capacitor at the input terminal. The basic circuit diagram illustrates this setup.
We will first assume that the op amp used here is an ideal op amp. We know that the voltage at both inverting and non inverting terminals of an ideal op amp is same. As the electric potential at non inverting terminal is zero since it is grounded. The electric potential of inverting terminal is also zero, as the opamp is ideal. Because, we know that the electric potential at non – inverting and inverting terminals. It is also known to us that the current entering through inverting and non inverting terminal of an ideal op amp is zero.
Given these ideal op amp conditions, applying Kirchhoff Current Law at node 1 of the op amp differentiator circuit, we find:
This equation indicates that the output voltage is the derivative of the input voltage.
