VIJAYANTA SENIOR SECONDARY

SCHOOL AVADI

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

“To study the variations in current flowing in a
circuit containing a LDR “

SESSION: 2024-25

Submitted to Submitted by:

Mrs. RAMYA SUDHIR V. DIVYESH

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I express my gratitude towards my guide Mrs. Ramya sudhir for his
extended guidance and support for completion of this project work.

I would give my special thanks to Dr.S. SARDA Head Mistress of

Vijayanata Senior Secondary School Avadi for his great support by
motivating and encouraging in every endeavor of ours.

I want to thank my friends for their contribution and co-operation.

A special thanks to CBSE for the scheme of project introduction to make

students discover their inbuilt abilities.

Last but not least I would like to thank my Parents for their love and
support.

Signature: -

Date: -

Name of the student: - V DIVYESH

Class: - XII B1 & Roll No. :- 12B118

Name of the school: - Vijayanta Senior Secondary School.

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 INDEX
Sl.No. TOPIC Page
No.
1. ABSTRACT 4
2. OBJECTIVE 5
3. THEORY 6
4. MATERIAL REQUIRED 8
5. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM 9
6. PROCEDURE 10
7. OBSERVATION 11
8. APPLICATIONS 12
9. PRECAUTION 13
10. SOURCE OF ERROR 13
11. CONCLUSION 14
12. REFERENCE 15

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 ABSTRACT
The general purpose photoconductive cell is also known as LDR –
light dependent resistor. It is a type of semiconductor and its
conductivity changes with proportional change in the intensity of light.
There are two common types of materials used to manufacture the
photoconductive cells. They are Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) and
Cadmium Selenide (CdSe). Extrinsic devices have impurities added,
which have a ground state energy closer to the conduction band - since
the electrons don't have as far to jump, lower energy photons (i.e. longer
wavelengths and lower frequencies) are sufficient to trigger the device.
Two of its earliest applications were as part of smoke and fire detection
systems and camera light meters. The structure is covered with glass
sheet to protect it from moisture and dust and allows only light to fall on
it.

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 OBJECTIVE
To study the variations, in current flowing in a circuit containing
a LDR, because of a variation:-

 In the power of the incandescent lamp, used to ‘illuminate’ the

LDR. (Keeping all the lamps at a fixed distance).
 In the distance of a incandescent lamp, (of fixed power), used to
‘illuminate’ the LDR.

Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

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 THEORY
LDR and its characteristics:
When light is incident on it, a photon is absorbed and thereby it excites
an electron from valence band into conduction band. Due to such new
electrons coming up in conduction band area, the electrical resistance of
the device decreases. Thus the LDR or photo- conductive transducer has

the resistance which is the inverse function of radiation intensity.

λ0 = threshold wavelength, in meters

e = charge on one electron, in Coulombs
Ew = work function of the metal used, Ev

 Characteristics of photoconductive cells:

Now when the device is kept in darkness, its resistance is called as dark
resistance. This resistance is typically of the order of 1013 ohms. When
light falls on it, its resistance decreases up to several kilo ohms or even
hundreds of ohms, depending on the intensity of light, falling on it. The
spectral response characteristics of two commercial cells were compared
in our laboratory. And we found that there is almost no response to the
radiation of a wavelength which was shorter than 300nm. It was very
interesting to note that the Cadmium Sulphide cell has a peak response
nearer or within the green color of the spectrum within a range of 520nm.
Thus it can be used nearer to the infra-red region up to 750nm. It was
found that the maximum response of Cadmium Sulphoselenide is in the
yellow-orange range at 615nm and also it can be used in the infra-red
region up to about 970nm.
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 Sensitivity:
The sensitivity of a photo detector is the relationship between the light
falling on the device and the resulting output signal. In the case of a
photocell, one is dealing with the relationship between the incident light
and the corresponding resistance of the cell.

 Spectral Response:
Like the human eye, the relative sensitivity of a photoconductive cell is
dependent on the wavelength (color) of the incident light. Each
photoconductor material type has its own unique spectral response curve
or plot of the relative response of the photocell versus wavelength of
light.

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 MATERIALS REQUIRED
 Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

 Connecting Wires

 Source of different power rating

(bulbs)

 Bulb Holder

 Meter scale

 Multi Meter

 Battery
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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

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 PROCEDURE
 Choose a specific position for the source and mount it using
a holder, make sure it is stable.
 Select the bulb with the lowest power rating and connect it to
the holder as shown in the figure.
 Connect the LDR, battery (6V) and the multimeter in series.
 Set the multimeter to ohm section and select suitable range
and measure the resistance with a bulb on.
 Similarly switch to current section and move to micro
ampere in the multimeter. This gives the value of the
current.
 Repeat these steps with different power sources at
different distances and note down observations

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 OBSERVATIONS
The experiment has been conducted by using various sources with
different power ratings. Voltage of the battery= 6 V

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 APPLICATIONS
Lead sulfide (PbS) and indium antimonide (InSb) LDRs are used for the
mid infrared spectral region. GeCu photoconductors are among the best
far infrared detectors available, and are used for infrared astronomy and
infrared spectroscopy.

Analog Applications:

 Camera Exposure Control

 Auto Slide Focus - dual cell
 Photocopy Machines - density of toner
 Colorimetric Test Equipment
 Densitometer
 Electronic Scales - dual cell
 Automatic Gain Control – modulated light source
 Automated Rear View Mirror



Digital Applications:

 Automatic Headlight Dimmer

 Night Light Control
 Oil Burner Flame Out
 Street Light Control
 Position Sensor

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 PRECAUTIONS
 LDR is placed normally to the light source so that angle of incidence
of light rays remain constant and normal throughout the experiment.

 All the connections should be made tight.

SOURCES OF ERROR
 Background illumination is a source of error in this activity.
 The LDR may not perpendicular to the source.
 Connection may be faulty.
 The experiment should be conducted in dark room.
 Measurement should be taken accurately 

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 CONCLUSION


 The LDR resistance decreases with

increase in intensity of light and hence
there is an increase in the flow of
current.
 There is an increase in the current as the
distance from the source decreases.
 The intensity decreases as the distance
from the source increases
 The error lies within the experimental
limit.

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 REFERENCES


 NCERT Physics class XII

 Art of Electronics by Paul Worowitz
 www.wikipedia.com/
 www.electronics2000.co.uk/links/
education-hobby/
 Laboratory manuals in Physics
 Practical Physics

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THANK
YOU

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