op-amp

An Operational Amplifier (or "Op-Amp") is a kind of electronic circuit that can be used to amplify signals - that is, make them bigger or stronger. It is made up of a number of parts, like transistors and resistors, that work together to make it work. It works by taking an input signal and amplifying it, so that it can become a much bigger output signal. This can be used for many different kinds of tasks, such as amplifying the sound from a microphone so it can be sent over loud speakers, or combining electrical signals from different parts of a computer so they can be sent to one place.