Operational Amplifier - EIM Lab-OnThe-Go Manual

LOTG Lab-On-The-Go Manual

Operational Amplifier

The operational amplifier (Op-amp) was first invented by Karl D. Swartzel
Jr. in 1941 and was initially used in analog computers (and soon being
used as artillery director during WWII). It has since become a ubiquitous
component in electronic circuits, used for amplification, filtering, and
signal conditioning. Symbolically, an Opamp has two signal inputs, a pair
of power rails and an output port.
Op-amps have high gain, high input impedance, low output impedance,
and are designed to have a very stable gain over a wide range of
frequencies. They are typically implemented as integrated circuits (ICs)
and come in various packages. The Opamp included in the kit is LM358,
which has a black rectangular case with 8 pins distributed in two parallel
rows. This package is called Dual Inline package, or DIP 8 since it contains
8 pins, that can be easily plug-fit onto a breadboard.
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