Name: ________________________

AQA A Level Physics

Electronics 3.13.3 to 3.13.4 Class: ________________________

Date: ________________________

Time: 97 minutes

Marks: 61 marks

Q1 to Q4 to be worked through with tutor. Q5 to Q7 to be

Comments:
worked through independently.

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 (a) State two characteristics of an operational amplifier.
1
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) (i) Draw a circuit diagram showing an operational amplifier used as an inverting voltage
amplifier.

(ii) Give suitable values for the components you have used in the circuit for a voltage
amplification of magnitude 150.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(4)

(c) When negative feedback is used with an amplifier the bandwidth increases.

(i) Explain what is meant by negative feedback as applied to the circuit drawn in part (b).

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) Give one other advantage of using negative feedback in this application.

______________________________________________________________

(iii) State what is meant by the bandwidth of an amplifier.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(iv) Indicate on the graph below, by means of a horizontal line, the bandwidth of the
amplifier whose characteristic is shown.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

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 (5)
(Total 11 marks)

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 An engineer uses copper cable to connect an intercom system between her office and workshop.
2 The signals have to travel a long distance and she finds that interference (hum) from the mains
supply is a problem.
She reduces the interference using a filter tuned to the frequency of the mains supply. The mains
frequency is 50 Hz.

Figure 1 shows her solution which is based on a parallel L–C resonant circuit.

Figure 1

(a) The engineer uses a 2.0 H inductor.

Calculate the required value for C for the filter to operate at 50 Hz.

capacitance = ____________________ F
(2)

Figure 2 is the response curve for the inductor-capacitor circuit which shows how the pd V
across the inductor-capacitor circuit varies with frequency.

Figure 2

frequency / Hz

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 (b) Calculate, from the graph, the Q factor of the inductor-capacitor circuit.

Q factor = ____________________
(1)

(c) The inductor is replaced to one that has an inductance of 8.0 H and a lower resistance than
that of the original inductor. The capacitor is not changed. Describe how this change affects
the response curve of the inductor-capacitor circuit.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

The diagram below shows an op-amp used in an amplifier circuit.

3

(a) Name the type of amplifier circuit shown. ____________________

(1)

(b) Calculate the output voltage Vout when the input voltage Vin = 0.50 V.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

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 (c) The input is now connected to a sinusoidal source of rms output 2.0 V and frequency
50 Hz.

(i) Calculate the peak input voltage.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) On the axes below draw a trace showing two cycles of the input signal and label it A.

On the same axes, draw the two corresponding cycles of the output signal and label
it B.

Add suitable scales to the axes.

(6)
(Total 9 marks)

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In the circuit shown, an input of +1.2 V is applied simultaneously to each of the inputs A, B and
C.

(a) Determine the current flowing through each of the input resistors and mark on the diagram
the direction of each current.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(b) Determine the value of the output voltage, Vout, if Rf = 10 kΩ.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(c) If Rf is changed to a resistor of 20 kΩ state, with a reason, the value of Vout.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(Total 6 marks)

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 A radio telescope suffers interference from local industrial equipment. To reduce the interference
5 it is decided to combine the radio telescope output signal with the signal from a receiver that
receives only the interference.
The two signals are shown below.

Before the signals are combined, the interference signals must have the same amplitude. This is
achieved by amplifying the radio telescope signal.

(a) (i) Calculate the voltage gain needed from this amplifier.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)

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 (ii) It is decided to use a non-inverting amplifier where the voltage gain can be adjusted
from 11 to approximately 100.
Complete the circuit diagram for the non-inverting amplifier and include suitable
values for the resistors.

(3)

(b) The amplified radio telescope signal and the interference signal are added together with a
summing amplifier.

(i) Complete the circuit diagram below for a summing amplifier and include suitable
values for the resistors.

(3)

(ii) Explain how adding the two signals reduces the interference signal in the output.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

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 Figure 1 shows the circuit of a summing amplifier which uses an operational amplifier with
6 negative feedback. The power supply to the operational amplifier is ±12 V.

Figure 1

(a) (i) State what is meant by negative feedback. Explain how this is achieved in the above
circuit.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii) Give two reasons for using negative feedback in an amplifier.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(4)

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(b) The input voltages to the amplifier in part (a), V1 and V2, vary with time according to the
graphs shown in Figure 2. Given that R1 = 40 kΩ, R2 = 20 kΩ and Rf = 40 kΩ show on the
third set of axes the variation of Vout with time. Indicate values of Vout on the axis.

Figure 2

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 8 marks)

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 Figure 1 shows an inverting op-amp amplifier subsystem.
7
Figure 1

(a) (i) Write in the box the letter that corresponds to the virtual earth point in Figure 1.

(1)

(ii) Explain the meaning of the term virtual earth point.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(iii) State the input resistance of this amplifier subsystem.

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Calculate the value of Rf needed to give the amplifier subsystem a voltage gain of − 47.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

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(c) The amplifier subsystem in part (b) is used to increase the signal voltage from an electric
guitar.

The voltage from the guitar to the amplifier input is shown in Figure 2.

Draw onto the lower part of Figure 2 the output signal from the amplifier subsystem.

Figure 2

(4)
(Total 11 marks)

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Mark schemes
(a) high input impedance
1 very large voltage gain any two (1) (1)
low output impedance
2

(b) (i) circuit diagram to show: correct feedback and output (1)
correct inputs (1)

(ii) Ra ≥ 1 kΩ (1)
gives Rf = 150 kΩ (1)
4

(c) (i) fraction of output fed back through Rf (1)

is 180° out of phase with input (1)

(ii) increased stability or less distortion or controlled gain (1)

(iii) range of frequencies within which voltage gain

does not fall by 1 / √2 or power by 1 / 2 (1)

(iv) bandwidth given by gain of = 16 (1) (15.6)

horizontal line at gain = 16 and inside curve

max 5
[11]

(a) f0 = 1 / (2π x √ (L x C)) C = 1 / (f02 x 4π2 x L) ✓ [valid rearrangement]

2
= 1 / (502 x 4π2 x 0.1)
= 5.07 (5.1) μF ✓ [μF]
2

(b) Q factor = f0 / fB = 50 / 2.5 = 20 ✓

1

(c) Resonant frequency becomes 25 Hz ✓

Peak higher than original at resonant frequency ✓✓

2
[5]

(a) (i) inverting (amplifier) (1)

3 1

(b) use of Vout = (–) × Vin (1)

= (–) × 0.5 = –2.0 V (1)

2

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 (c) (i) Vpeak (input) = 2.0 × √2 = 2.8(3) V (1)

(ii) input trace (A): sinusoidal with T = 20 ms (1)

and peak = 2.8 V (1)

for output voltage, Vpeak (out) = (–) × 2.8(3)= (±)11.3 (V) (1)

(allow C.E. for value of Vpeak (input) from (i)

trace B: inversion w.r.t. trace A (1)

same period as trace A (1)
flat region (saturates) at ± 5 V (1)
max 6
[9]

4
(a) Ia = = 0.2 mA (1)

Ib = 0.3 mA and Ic = 0.6mA (1)

correct direction of current shown (1)

(b) current through Rf = 1.1(mA) gives Vout = 1.1 × 10–3 × 10 × 103 = 11V (1)
negative value (1)

(c) Vout (22 V)> supply voltage [or saturated] (1)

Vout = (–)15V (1)
[6]

(a) (i) Correct formula ✓,

5
substitution ✓,
calculation, 50 ✓,
3

(ii) Correct circuit (non-inverting) ✓,

Variable element in a correct place ✓,
Appropriate values (1kΩ - 10MΩ) (gain of 10 to ≈100) (must work as an
amplifier) ✓
3

(b) (i) Correct circuit (summing amp) ✓,

Appropriate resistor values (1kΩ - 10MΩ) ✓,
Appropriate gain (0.1 - 3) ✓
3

(ii) Signals out of phase, inverted ✓,

so when added they cancel ✓
2
[11]

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 (a) (i) negative feedback: part or all of the output is fed back to the input
6 180° out of phase (1)

achieved through Rf (1)

(ii) greater stability

less distortion any two (1) (1)
increased bandwidth
gain predictable
4

(b)

negative values (1)

correct 9 V and 12 V (1)
saturation (1)
repeated (1)
max 4
[8]

(a) (i) A
7
(at inverting input)
1

(ii) a point on the circuit where the voltage is 0v / ground

but not connected to 0v / is almost 0v / simulates 0v
assuming that the op-amp has not saturated
2 max

(iii) 10kΩ (must have units unless 10,000 which assumes standard)
oe 10,000Ω / 10K etc
1

(b) correct formula rearranged

calculation / substitution
470kΩ
3 for just correct answer with units
3

(c) inverted,
same frequency,
shape shows evidence of correct gain
maximum amplitude 3v to 5v
4
[11]

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Examiner reports
The choice of two characteristics of an op-amp, in part (a), was slightly disappointing with
1 candidates giving irrelevant information concerning op-amps, such as ‘there are two inputs’ or
‘the signal is reversed if fed into the negative terminal’.

The circuit diagram in part (b) was usually drawn correctly although one candidate drew the
circuit for the non-inverting amplifier. Values for the input resistor Ra should be ≥ 1 kΩ. This was
usually the case. Calculation of the feedback resistor Rf was correct.

Most of the candidates performed well on the subject of negative feedback in part (c) and could
also explain what was meant by bandwidth, but attempts at drawing the corresponding level on
the graph were disappointing, with either no attempt being made or else being drawn at the
incorrect value.

The answers to part (a) were often correct, but a noticeable number of candidates then lost a
3 mark in part (b) by failing to include a negative sign in the final answer.

The initial calculation in part (c) was done well, although some candidates divided instead of
multiplying by . Many marks were lost, however, in the drawing of the relevant wave forms and
in labelling the axes. Common mistakes included poor drawing to the relevant scale marked on
the voltage axis, marking the time scale in seconds when it was shown in milliseconds, and
failing to realise that the output voltage could not exceed the supply voltage thereby producing
saturation.

This question gave the best results in the paper. Parts (a) and (b) were usually correct and the
4 only common error occurred in part (c), where candidates failed to realise that the output would
saturate at –15 V. There appear to be on-going problems at this level in that candidates seem to
ignore saturation in operational amplifiers and clipped rectified waveforms across zener diodes.

This question was also intended to provide candidates with an opportunity to show their
5 knowledge of op-amp amplifiers.

(a) (i) Many correct responses were seen, though some candidates confused input and
output voltages.

(ii) For basic bookwork, this was poorly answered. Many candidates used the +ve input
instead of the -ve input of the op-amp for the feedback loop.

(b) (i) It was worrying to see how many candidates could not draw summing amplifiers. Few
gained all three marks and often the resistor values was too low or the gain
inappropriate.

(ii) Many creditworthy responses were seen with candidates recognising that the two
interference signals were inverted. However, too many just restated the information in
the question and so did not gain credit.

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 Answers to part (a)(i) were fairly disappointing in that candidates explained negative feedback in
6 terms of the output being fed back into the negative input, without stating that the output voltage
was 180° out of phase with the input voltage. The advantages of using negative feedback in an
amplifier were well known.

In part (b) most candidates did not notice that there was a simple relationship between R1, R2
and Rf resulting in a simple equation giving Vout in terms of V1 and V2. The method adopted was
to calculate the value of Vout each time. When drawing the form of Vout, some candidates did not
include the negative factor and gave Vout as being positive. The other error which occurred was
that the maximum value of Vout was given as 15 V, not realising that it saturated at 12 V.

(a) (i) Most candidates selected the correct option.

7
(ii) A large number of answers tended to repeat the word ‘earth’ used in the question,
scoring only one point.

(iii) The vast majority gave the correct answer.

(b) Many gave the correct answer, but workings showing clearly how it was arrived at were
less common.

(c) Many were able to sketch an inverted wave of the same frequency, several gave evidence
of using the gain to calculate a theoretical peak voltage, but few noticed the power supply
limitation of the circuit.

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