Pocket comparator - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia

This simulation highlights the difference between an amplifier and a comparator, emphasizing the feedback mechanism in op-amp operation. The amplifier circuit uses negative feedback, which stabilizes gain and ensures the output is a smooth, amplified version of the input signal. This feedback forces the op-amp to work linearly, keeping the voltage difference between inputs nearly zero. The comparator, however, operates without feedback, driving the output to either saturation level depending on