Which statement applies to a voltage follower circuit configuration?

Which statement applies to a voltage follower circuit configuration?

• A. The input is connected to the non-inverting input with unity gain.
• B. The feedback is taken from the output to the non-inverting input.
• C. The output terminal of the op-amp is shorted to the inverting terminal.
• D. The circuit requires a differential input.

Answer: (C)

A voltage follower uses negative feedback to make the output track the input exactly. The way it’s wired is that the output is connected back to the inverting input, while the input signal is applied to the non-inverting input. Because of this feedback, the op-amp drives its output until the voltages on both inputs are the same, so the gain is effectively one and the circuit acts as a buffer with high input impedance and low output impedance. The statement that the output terminal of the op-amp is shorted to the inverting terminal describes this exact feedback path, which is what stabilizes and sets the unity gain. If the feedback were to the non-inverting input instead, it would create positive feedback and could drive the output to saturation rather than produce a stable follower. While op-amps are inherently differential devices, the follower configuration leverages the negative feedback to force Vout to match Vin rather than relying on any deliberate differential input.

A voltage follower uses negative feedback to make the output track the input exactly. The way it’s wired is that the output is connected back to the inverting input, while the input signal is applied to the non-inverting input. Because of this feedback, the op-amp drives its output until the voltages on both inputs are the same, so the gain is effectively one and the circuit acts as a buffer with high input impedance and low output impedance.

The statement that the output terminal of the op-amp is shorted to the inverting terminal describes this exact feedback path, which is what stabilizes and sets the unity gain. If the feedback were to the non-inverting input instead, it would create positive feedback and could drive the output to saturation rather than produce a stable follower. While op-amps are inherently differential devices, the follower configuration leverages the negative feedback to force Vout to match Vin rather than relying on any deliberate differential input.