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Light Comparator (E) : HN Feffieluth Hl0Ilmentol

This device can compare two light sources by their intensities using light-dependent resistors (LDRs) or CdS photoresistors in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. When the two LDRs receive equal light, a potentiometer can be adjusted to null the output on a microammeter, allowing comparison of different light sources. The simple circuit uses only resistors and can operate for many months on batteries, making it suitable for educational light and optical experiments.

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tihomiho
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34 views

Light Comparator (E) : HN Feffieluth Hl0Ilmentol

This device can compare two light sources by their intensities using light-dependent resistors (LDRs) or CdS photoresistors in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. When the two LDRs receive equal light, a potentiometer can be adjusted to null the output on a microammeter, allowing comparison of different light sources. The simple circuit uses only resistors and can operate for many months on batteries, making it suitable for educational light and optical experiments.

Uploaded by

tihomiho
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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hn FeffiEluth Hl0ilmentol

(E)
LIGHTCOMPARATOR
Thisdevicecan be usedto comparetwo lightsourcesby theirintensities.
Severalopticalexperimentscanbe conducted usingthis.Youcancompare I
I

by reflected
colorsof surfaces colorsusingspecialfilters.
lightor compare I

ThesensorsusedareCdSphotoresistors or LDRs(LightDependent Resis-


tors)thathavepeaksensitivity
in the red part of the spectrum(7350ang-
stromsor 735nm).
Asthenamesuggests, theLDRhasa resistance whichvariesaslightfallson
itssensitivesurface.As thelightintensityincreases,
resistancefalls.In total
darkness resistance canbe highas 1,000,000 ohmsor more.llluminated by
fallsto 100ohmsor less.
directsolarlight,the resistance
Ourcircuitis a simpleWheatstone by twoLDRsandan
Bridgeequilibrated
potentiometer
ddjustable (Pl).
Whenthetwo LDRsarereceiving thesameamountof light,P1canbe ad-
justedto geta nullindication
ontheammeter(M1).
lf weuseoneLDRas reference,
wecancompare anothersourceof lightwith
thisbyusingtheotherLDRassensor. of Pl canrevealthe
A newadjustment
difference
betweenthetwolightsources.
The schematicdiagramof the lightcomparatoris shownin Figure 1. No
areusedin this
transistors project<nly resistors.
Componentslayout,usinga terminalstripas chassis,is shownin Figure2.
Theterminalstripcanbe fixedin the plasticboxusingscrews.
Wiresto the
problems.
sensorcanbe as longas 6 feetwithoutinstability
TheLDRsshouldbe mountedintotwosmallopaquetubesto receivelight
Ml shouldbe a zero-
fromdifferentsourceswithoutoutsideinterference.
centermicroammeter.A 50-0-50uA microammeter wouldbe suitable.
Thecircuitcanbepoweredfromtwoor fourAAcells,andcurrentdrainis very
low,extendingbatterylifeto manymonths.

280
tr.Fcr 8S llrn8.ffirry

P1
10K

R2
1K

Figurc I

0 0-Q o o o

Figure2

280
IunPlolccts
folllroHDeilmcmel.

PartsList- LightComparator
LDR1,2 - Common1cmLDRs(LightDependent
Resistors)
or CdSphotosensors
M1 - 50-0-50uA ammeter- seetext

R1,2 - 1,000ohm,114W,5%
resistor

R3 - 4,700ohm,114W,5%
resistor

P1 - 10,000ohm potentiometer

51 - SPSTtoggleor slideswitch

81 - 3 to 6V - two or fourM cells

ldeasto Explore
To learnmoreaboutthe circuitor to get betterperformance:
o Useothertypesof sensors,suchas phototransistors
in the circuit.
Whatis the ditference?
. Explainhowan LDRor CdScelloperates.
o Usea convergentlensin frontof the cellsfor moresensitivity.

Scienceprojects:
o Severalexperiments
involvinglightsourcesin opticscan be made
usingthiscircuit.
o Comparethereflections frompaperusingdifferent
butequal-power
lightsources,suchas incandescent
and fluorescent.Whichof them
has the betterperformance?
a lt is possibleto changethiscircuitintoa temperature
comparator.
Justreplacethe LDRswithNTCs.

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