This simulation compares an op-amp used as a linear amplifier versus used as a comparator. The violet trace at the top is the 1 kHz input sine; the green trace shows the amplifier output which follows the input smoothly with gain and remains within the op-amp’s linear region thanks to negative feedback — you can see a larger amplitude sinusoid with low distortion and Vpp ≈ 10V. The red trace is the comparator output: instead of a scaled sine it snaps between ±supply rails, producing a clean squa

This simulation compares inverting and non-inverting operational amplifier configurations using the same sine-wave input, making the behavior easy to see on the waveforms above. At a basic level, notice how the input signal is clean and centered around zero, while the outputs have higher amplitude. That’s the op-amp doing its main job—amplifying a small signal without changing its frequency. Looking closer at the inverting amplifier, the output waveform is flipped upside down relative to the inp