Investigatory Project No.

4
Aim. To make a dry cell charger.
Components required:
1.A step-down transformer (9 V-350 mA)
2. Junction diode (BY 127)
3. Resistors having resistances of 22
4. Neon bulb
,
22 2, 150 2 and 100k2

5. Torch bulb (63 V-60 mA)

6. Switch
Theory. A dry cell charger is an electronic gadget, which can be used to recharge the used up dry cells and thus
making it possible to again use them.
A dry cell consists of a cylindrical zinc container, which acts as its negative pole. A carbon rod fitted with a brass
cap and placed in the middle of the zinc container acts as the positive pole. A moist paste of saw dust
saturated with
ammonium chloride and zinc chloride (highly hygroscopic) is used as an electrolyte. The carbon rod is surrounded by
bag. While the manganese dioxide
a closely packed mixture of manganese dioxide and charcoal powder in muslin a
acts as depolariser, the charcoal powder reduces the internal resistance of the cell.
place inside the cel
When a dry cell is put to use, the following reactions take
At negativepole:
Zn Zn** +2 e"
Inelectrolyte: ZnCl +2 NH,* +2e
Znt*+2 NH,CI
2 NH+2e 2 NH, + H2
In depolariser:
2 MnO +H Mn,03 + H,O
chloride. A
is used up and zinc metal is converted into zinc
Iherefore, as a dry cell is used, ammonium chloride and zinc metal. A dry cell charger brings about this
ary cell can be charged again by regenerating ammonium chloride gas into water is
action of manganese dioxide to convert hydrogen
equired regeneration. However, the depolarising discarded after
Due to this, a dry cell can never be recharged completely and has to be
PErmanent and irreversible.
Techarging it a couple of times.
239
INVESTIGATORY PROJECTS
 the circuit diagram fora dry cell charger.
circuit diagram. Fig, 4.01 shows
Drer description of

STEP-DOWN
TRANSFORMER
ww
150 2
ww
wwww
BY 127
TTHREE
S100 k USED UP
DRY CELLS
TO 220V
a.c. MAINS
O

Fig. 4.01
heln of
transformer converts 220Va.c. into 9Vd.c., when the a.c. supply is Switched on with the
he step-down
the switch S. The neon bulb B across the primary coil has been used
to indicate the supply of a.c. to the primary coilof
to save it from getting damaged due
the transformer. The resistance of 100 k2 is put in series with the neon bulb in order
into d.c., which charges the used up
to the flow of large current through it. The junction diode BY 127 converts Va.c.
9
the charging current, while the torch
dry cells. The parallel combination of two 22 2 resistances are used to regulate
bulb B is used to indicate the level of charging

Investigatory Project No. 5

Aim. To make an electronie buzzer.
Components required:
1. One transistor- AC 127 (p-n-p)
2. One junction diode-BY 127
3.One variable resistor (0 to 1 k2)
4. A transformer for coupling the input and output circuit of the transistor.
5. One speaker of impedance 5 to 8Q
6. A3Vbattery
7. Push button
Brief description of circuit diagram. Fig. 5.01 shows the circuit diagram for an electronic buzzer.

AC 127
SPEAKER
(5-8)

1k 3V
wwww-
BY127
_PUSH
BUTTON

Fig.5.01
The circuit essentially consists of the transistor
working as a high frequency oscillator.
pressed, the primary coil of the transtormer(T) couples When the push but
the emitter-base (input) circuit
circuit. It converts the d.c. supply into with the emitter-collector (oud
high frequency a.c. oscillations. The sing
through the primary coil of the transtormer drive its high frequency a.c. oscillationspaake
secondary coil. T
produces a shrill sound. The variable resistance of 1 k2 is output of the secondary coil fed to the speast
used to change the tone of the
sound produced.
240
MODERN'S abc of PRACTICAL PHYSICS
Class
 Investigatory Project No. 7
Aim. To make a disco-light.
Components required:
1.Two transistors- both BC 148 B (n-p-n) 2. Two resistors- each of 100 2 (025 W)
3. Two resistors- each of 56 kQ (025 w) 4. Two capacitors-each of 10juF (12 V)
5. Three green L.E.Ds. and three red L.E.Ds. 6. A 9V battery
7.Flexible wires.
Theory. Disco-lights are usually incorporated in stereo
music systems in order to indicate the variations in tone
and volume of the sound visually.
A disco-lightis a stable or free-running multivibrator. 56 k
Such a vibrator is a two stage circuit, each stage controlling ww
#he conduction characteristics of the other.
Multivibrators BC 148 B
can be considered as non-sinusoidal oscillators, pulse
1002
generators or switching Circuits, depending upon how
they are used. www-KK
A free running multi-vibrator operates continuously, 10F 10 uF
such that if at one time, the first stage is 56 ki2
conducting, the
second stage is cut-oft and then at another time, when the ww-
second stage is conducting, the first stage is cut-off. The
continuous switching action takes place automatically. BC 148 B
D, D D,
Brief description of circuit diagram. Fig. 7.01 shows
the circuit diagram for a disco-light making use of three
green and three red L.E.Ds.
The circuit essentially consists of two RC-coupled
amplifier stages, with output of each stage coupled to the
input of the other. When the first stage transistor T E
9V
conducts, the second stage transistor T, is cut-off. As such, Fig..7.01
the red L.E.Ds, Da, D and D, start glowing.
T, cut-off. Now, the green L.E.Ds.
After a regular interval, the transistor T, starts conducting and the transistor is
start glowing

Investigatory Project No. 8

Aim. To make an electronic musical door bell.
Components required:
1. One IC chip-UM 66 to 2S
2. One power transistor-SL 100
(1-p-n)
3. One resistor of 1 k2 (025 W)
4. One 3"speaker of impedance 4 2 6. A push button
output of 3 V
5. A full wave rectifier (battery eliminator) with When current passes through
the principle of an electromagnet.
Theory. An ordinary electric door bell is based on core, then, attracts a hammer, which strikes
he coil wound around a soft iron core, it
gets magnetised. The magnetised drawbacks:
following
Such an electric bell suffers from the
galnst a metallic gong to produce the sound. soft iron core, which in turn heats up
passes through the coil, eddy currents are produced in the
() When current current is passed for a long time.
ne coil. As a result, the coil of the bell gets burnt, if the coil due to voltage fluctuation.
excessive current passing through its
7) Such a bell gets burnt due to
uun) The sound produced by the bell is
not soothing to the ears.
is ted to it by the full-wave rectifier incorporated
an electronic music bell operates on 3Vd.c. supply (which Moreover, as the name suggests, a musical door
ince its performance.
e it), the small voltage fluctuations do not hamper
ears.
e produces sound, which is quite pleasing to the 243
INVESTIGATORY PROJECTS
 bell.
the circuit diagram for a musical door
Driet description of circuit diagram. Fig. 8.01 shows
1k2
STEP-DOWN
TRANSFORMER
D
UM 66 To 2s m SL 100

SPEAKER
PUSH (42
BUTTON
s
TO 220 V
a.c. MAINS

D2

Fig. 8. 01
a push
The positive terminal of the full-wave rectifier is connected to the pin 2 of the IC chip UM 66 To 2S through
by the
button, while the negative terminal is connected to the pin 3 of the IC. The musical notes of the sound produced
a
IC are obtained at pin 1 of the IC, which are fed to the base of the power transistor SL 100 through resistanceofiko
The emitter of the transistor is also connected to the negative terminal of the full-wave rectifier. The speaker of impedance
42 is connected across the collector of the transistor and the positive terminal of the d.c. supply from the rectifier
The circuit is based on a simple application of the IC chip UM 66 TO 25. The whole circuit is wired primarilyon
the IC chip, which comprises of a ROM memory of 64 notes. It has a built-in oscillator and pre-amplifier. Since thesignal
generated by the IC is very weak, the power transistor SL 100 has been used to amplify the signal. The amplifiedsignal,
then, drives the speaker, which producesamusical sound.

Investigatory Project No. 9

Aim. To make an automatic light switching system (or wireless emergency light).
Components required:
1. IC chip-303. 2. L.D.R. possessing a resistance of 680 2 in normallight.
3. Bulb (6V-047 A) 4. A 6V battery
5. Switch
Brief description of circuit diagram. Fig. 9.01 shows the circuit LIGHT
diagram for an automatic light switching system or wireless
emergency light.
The circuit essentially consists of IC chip 303. The pins 1,2 and LD.R
3 are joined together. A battery of 6 V is connected across the pins2
and 5 L.D.R. is connected across the input pins 1 and 6, while the
bulb B is connected across the output pins 3 and 4 2 5
During normal day light, if switch S is kept closed, the bulb B 303
will not glow. As soon as it gets dark and light falling on L.D.R. is
cut-off, then due to decrease of resistance of L.D.R., the bulb B starts
glowing. Thus, the circuit arrangement will automatically switch
the bulb on, as soon as it becomes dark in the evening. 6V
ig. 9.01
Investigatory Project No. 10
Aim. To make a rain alarm or water level indicator.
Components required:
1. One transistorBC 147 (n-p-n) 2.One transistor-2 N 6107 (p-n-p)
3. One ceramic capacitor-0-01uF 4. One speaker of impedance
5. Two rain sensors (aluminium tubes of about 5 mm in diameter 5 to 8 2
and 10 cm in length).
6. Two resistances 330 k2 (025 w) and 15 k2 (025 W)
7. A 6 V battery 8. Switch
244 MODERN'S abc of PRACTICAL PHYSICS
 of description
Brief o of circuit diagram. Fig 10.01
shows the circuit diagram
Oon as the rain sensors get dipped in the water. for an electric circuit, which will raise
alarm as

330 k
2N6107

PLASTER
cOVER
BC147

SORS 1
5k 2
H www SPEAKER
WATER O01uF (5-82
ig10.01
Thetwo aluninium tubes serving as the rain sensors are held parallel to each other at a small distance. For this,
theymay be fixed over a small plastic plate. The sensors are held vertically in a wide glass container.
When there is no water in the glass container, the speaker does not give sound on closing the switch S. But as soon
assome water is poured in the container, so that the two rain sensors dip inside the water the speaker produces sound
Thus, if the whole arrangement is placed in open, the circuit will raise alarm as soon as the rain water collects in the
container.
The circuit arrangement can also be used as water level indicator. The sensors are held at the desired height above
thebottom of the water reservoir. When the level of water reaches the marked height and touchesthe sensors, the circuit
will raise alarm.

Investigatory Project No.1

Aim. To make a fire alarm.
Components required:
1.One transistor-BC 108 (n-p-n) 2. One junction diode -OA 202
4. A thermistor (TH3)
3.Amagnetic relay (185Q)
6. One variable resistor-10 kQ
5. One carbon resistor -1 k2
8. A6V battery
7.One electric bell (6 V)
circuit diagram for a fire alarm
Brief description of circuit diagram. Fig. 11.01 shows the
MAGNETIC RELAY
(185 2)

AOA 202
TH3

ELECTRIC
k 1
BELL
www BC 108

10k
wwww
Fig. 11.01
245
INVESTIGATORY PROJECTS
 a
resistance is quite high. AS sucn, no colector current tflows
wnen the thermistor is at its normal temperature, its in
open (as shown in the figure). Due to this, the bell does not ring
e uransIstor and the relay contacts remain near it, its resistance decreases
to some accidental fire elechen,
When the temperature of the thermistor rises due closed. As the relay contacts close, the ricbell
allows the flow of ollector current, which makes the relay contacts
starts ringing, raising the fire alarm.

nvestigatory Project No. 12

Aim. To make an aural continuity tester.
Components required: BC 177 (p-n-p)
1. One transistor- BC 108 C (11-p-n) 2. One transistor
3.One resistor (22 k2) 4. One capacitor (022uF)
5. A speaker of impedance 8 2 6. A 15 V dry cell.
7. Two leads having metallic probes (such as used in a multimeter)
n
Theory. order to locate the fault in electrical appliances or the a.c. main wiring in a house, an electrician makes
useof a series continuity tester, which is usually an electrical bulb holder having two small leads. There is always a risk
of electric shock, while using such a continuity tester. On the other hand, a radio/T.V.
mechanic makes use of an ohm
purpose. However,
meter for testing the continuity of a circuit. A multimeter is found to be extremely useful for this
corntinuity between two points, one has to keeD
person may experience a practical difficulty, while using it. To test the
to be turned towards the
the probes of the multimeter in contact with these points and at the same time, the face has
multimeter to see, whether it gives deflection or not. While doing so, the probes may slip off the points, between which
the continuity is to be tested. an
An aural continuity testeroneis free from such a problem. Since the continuity between two points is indicated by
does not have look at the contimuity tester at al.A change in the tone of the sound
audiblesoundproduced by it, to
also gives an indication and estimate of the resistance of the circuit thereby distinguishing between the gemuine path
a
and sneak path through some other circuit. A high resistance along a path in the circuit is indicated by the increase
in the pitch of the tone.
Brief description of circuit diagram. Fig. 12.01 shows the circuit diagram for an aural continuity tester.

w-22 k

PROBES BC 177 1:5 V

BC 108C SPEAKERR
(83)
0-22 HF

Fig. 12.01
The circuit is essentially an audio oscillator making use of complementary transistors BC
RC 177, As a result, quite a large audible signalis fed to speaker even at thelow d.c.supply of 15V. The
10092
k2 is used to limit the eak value of current through the circuit under continuity test. The frequency of the
resistalnishe
determined by the value of the resistor arnd the capacitor in the circuit. The function of the capacitor is also to alo
oscillations to pass through the speaker and to check the flow of d.c. (from the cell)
through it.

Note. The investigatory projects given above are a few specimen ones. A
student may undertake sot
investigatory project under the guidance of his/her class teacher.

246 sX
MODERN'S abc of PRACTICAL PHYSICS