FEEDBACK AND THE INVERTING AMPLIFIER Feedback in an op amp is achieved by making an electrical connection from the output to one of the inputs ,usually via a resistor called the FEEDBACK RESISTOR Rr For an INVERTING amplifier, the output is connected to the inverting input of the amplifier via Ras shown: The feedback current is Ir and the input current is li. The op amp has a high impedance and thus draws a minute or negligible current. If Kirchoff’s current law is applied at the junction P ,then lin + Ir= 0, oF lin= - I. This also indicates that Inand I; are in ANTIPHASE which is true for the INVERTING op amp. The following two IMPORTANT ASSUMPTIONS are made: (1) The feedback current |; is equal to the input current lip, due to the impedance of the op amp being so high that it draws negligible current. (2) The potential at the point P is so small that it is approximated to zero, and the point P is therefore called the VIRTUAL EARTH. A point is said to be at VIRTUAL EARTH when the potential at that point is so small that it can be approximated to earth potential i.e. zero potential.