In the op-amp oscillator circuit shown in...

In the op-amp oscillator circuit shown in...

Question 1 of 270703oLVYulNMyqEXSSAm8i8

In the op-amp oscillator circuit shown in Figure 3D6, what would be the most noticeable effect if the capacitance of C were suddenly doubled?

Question 1 of 27070

Q

In the op-amp oscillator circuit shown in Figure 3D6, what would be the most noticeable effect if the capacitance of C were suddenly doubled?

🔍 Key Concepts

• RC oscillators and how frequency depends on resistance (R) and capacitance (C) • The relationship of oscillation frequency to time constant $\tau = RC$ • How changing C in a feedback network affects the charge/discharge time of the capacitor

💭 Think About

• If the capacitor takes longer to charge and discharge, what happens to the period of oscillation? And then to the frequency? • Think about whether reversing the op-amp inputs would immediately stop an already-running oscillator, or mainly change stability and start-up conditions. • Ask yourself: Is there any reason that doubling C would cause no change at all in an oscillator that clearly depends on an RC network?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify how the formula for the oscillator’s frequency includes C (for many simple RC oscillators, $f \propto 1/(RC)$ ). • Confirm that changing C changes the time constant and therefore the oscillation period. • Check whether any option claims the circuit "cannot function" and decide if that matches how typical op-amp oscillators with RC networks behave.