Exam-style question
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If an op-amp has a slew rate of 0.5 V/µs, what will happen when the input is a 10 V peak sine wave at 100 kHz?.
- A.Output will be a perfect sine wave
- B.Output will be distorted due to slew rate limiting
- C.Output will be attenuated but undistorted
- D.Output will be inverted
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Output will be distorted due to slew rate limiting
Explanation
Why this works
Rule: Slew rate is the maximum rate of change of the output voltage. Substitution: maximum slope of a sine wave = 2πfVp = 2π×100 kHz×10 V ≈ 6.28 V/µs.
Working: 6.28 V/µs > 0.5 V/µs, so the op‑amp cannot keep up and the output is distorted. Answer: output is distorted.
Conclusion: Slew‑rate limiting causes distortion.
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