Electrical – Does anything flow out of an op-amp

circuit analysis

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

I have several about this op-amp curcuit:

  1. i1 flows from Node 1. Does it flow into the op-amp? Or Another current will flow from the output of the op-amp? (I don't think i1 will flow into it, because Node 1 where i1 flows from has 0V and V0 is a positive number.)

    1. I am confused with the use of this ground symbol. It is not a physical ground where charge can flow out of. It is just a reference point, so we have one less node to calculate the voltage. Potential doesn't matter, the difference does. But i2 and i3 both flow out of the ground/reference. And nothing flows into it. Should either i2 or i3 flow into the reference to preserve the conservation of charge?

Best Answer

Both Martin and immibis have it correct. Here's a slightly more complete circuit, showing how I1 is absorbed by the op-amp output, then flows to the op-amps' negative supply voltage (the op-amp's positive supply voltage is not shown, but is still required).
You cannot accurately measure I1 at the -ve power supply, because there is additional quiescent current to bias the op-amp's internal transistors. I1 flows from op-amp output to either +ve or -ve supply voltage source