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Amplifier Gain Formula:
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Amplifier gain is the ratio of output voltage to input voltage in an amplifier circuit. It quantifies how much an amplifier increases the amplitude of a signal and is a fundamental parameter in electronic circuit design.
The calculator uses the amplifier gain formula:
Where:
Explanation: The gain represents how many times the input signal is amplified by the circuit. A gain greater than 1 indicates amplification, while a gain less than 1 indicates attenuation.
Details: Accurate gain calculation is essential for designing audio amplifiers, RF circuits, operational amplifiers, and ensuring proper signal levels throughout electronic systems.
Tips: Enter output voltage and input voltage in volts. Both values must be positive and non-zero. The result is a unitless ratio representing the amplification factor.
Q1: What is the difference between voltage gain and power gain?
A: Voltage gain measures the ratio of output voltage to input voltage, while power gain measures the ratio of output power to input power, taking impedance into account.
Q2: What are typical gain values for common amplifiers?
A: Typical gains range from 10 to 1000 for operational amplifiers, while audio amplifiers may have gains from 20 to 100 depending on application requirements.
Q3: How does gain relate to decibels (dB)?
A: Gain in decibels is calculated as \( Gain_{dB} = 20 \times \log_{10}(Gain) \), providing a logarithmic scale that's more practical for large gain ranges.
Q4: What factors affect amplifier gain?
A: Gain depends on circuit topology, component values (resistors, capacitors), transistor characteristics, feedback configuration, and operating frequency.
Q5: Can gain be negative?
A: Yes, negative gain indicates phase inversion (180° phase shift) between input and output signals, common in inverting amplifier configurations.