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Real Op-Amp Input and

Output Resistances
The input resistances of real op-amps are very large, but of
course not infinite!
Typical values of input resistances range from several
hundred Kilo Ohms to tens of Mega Ohms.
As a result, there is a small amount of current flowing into
input terminals of a real op-amp.
Q:
Q: Well
Wellof
ofcourse!
course!We
Wejust
just
studied
studiedthis
thistopic.
topic.We
Wealready
already
know
knowthat
thatthere
thereisisaabias
bias current
current
IIB flowing
flowinginto
into(or
(orout
outof)
of)real
realopopB

amp
ampterminals!
terminals!

A: This is true! However, there is an additional amount of

current flowing into the input terminals. This current is not a
constant bias current, but instead is directly proportional to
the input terminal voltage.

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Because the input resistance is finite, the total current into

real op-amp terminals are:

i IB 2 v 2 R
i
i I B 1 v1 R
i
As such, our input terminal circuit model is:

i IB 1

v1

Op-Amp
Op-AmpInput
Input
Terminal
TerminalModel
Model

IB 1

Ri

i IB 2 +

v2

IB 2

Ri

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We find that the input current v1 Ri or v2 Ri will be

insignificant (i.e., we can ignore its effect), provided that all
other resistors used in an op-amp circuit are significantly less
than the op-amp input resistance Ri.
Q:
Q: But
Butthis
thiswould
wouldimply
imply
that
thatwe
weshould
shouldnever
neveruse
use
resistor
values
greater
resistor values greater
than
than100K
100Kininour
ourop-amp
op-amp
circuits!
circuits!

A: Thats exactly right! If the resistor values that you

use in your op-circuit design are of the order of Ri, you
may find that your circuit behaves quite differently from
what you expected!
Now lets examine the real values of op-amp output resistance.
Instead of the ideal value of zero, we find that the output
op
resistances of real op-amps are non-zero (i.e., Ro 0 )!
Recall that the output resistance of both the inverting and
non-inverting configurations is approximately equal to the opop
amp output resistance (i.e., Ro Ro ). Thus, we find that the
output resistance of real inverting and non-inverting
amplifiers are likewise non-zero!

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Q:
Q: NO!
NO!The
Theamplifier
amplifieroutput
output
resistance
resistanceisisnot
notzero?!?
zero?!?This
This
means
meansthat
thatthe
theamplifier
amplifieroutput
output
will
willnot
notbe
beequal
equalto
tothe
theopenopencircuit
circuitvoltage
voltageififaafinite
finiteload
loadisis
attached!
attached!

A: This is absolutely correct! Remember, the output voltage

of an amplifier is equal to the input voltage times the opencircuit voltage gain only when the amplifier output is
connected to an open circuit.

vi

Ro 0

RL vo

Avo vi

But, recall that the output voltage will be approximately equal

to the open-circuit voltage if the output resistance is much
smaller than the load resistance. I.E.,:

vo ; Avo vi

if

Ro =RL