Virtually grounded negative input op amp exists but no virtually grounded positive input. why

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If the positive input of an operational amplifier is grounded, the negative input is said to be virtually grounded and it has therefore zero potential.
But the contrary is not true. A grounded negative input doesn't make the positive input virtually grounded.
Why?

Best Answer

For your answer, you have to go back to basic op-amp theory.

When you provide negative feedback to an op-amp, you make the negative input track the positive input as closely as possible.

Now tie the positive input to ground. The op-amp feedback is going to try to keep the negative input at that same potential: ground. Thus the name: Virtual Ground.

Note that when you inject current into that (-) node, the op-amp's output drives the feedback resistor to keep the (-) input at ground. This property is used to create a summing amplifier, where multiple currents can be summed into that node to create a voltage output that represents the sum of those currents. This configuration is called a "Virtual Earth Summing Amplifier".

Most analog audio mixing consoles use virtual-earth summing amplifiers for their mix busses.

Finally, note that it DOESN'T have to be the the (+) input grounded and (-) input as the virtual ground. If your op-amp has an inverting stage after its output, you could quite easily take your feedback from the output of that inverting stage rather than from the output of the op-amp. In this case, the (+) & (-) inputs swap: the (-) input is grounded and the (+) input is the virtual ground.

Do note that you have to take into account the phase margins of both stages when you cascade stages in that manner.