PHYSICS PROJECT

TOPIC:-
TO STUDY THE VARIATIONS IN CURRENT FLOWING IN A
CIRCUIT CONTAINING AN LDR BECAUSE OF A VARIATION
IN
(A) THE POWER OF THE INCANDESCENT LAMP, USED TO
‘ ILLUMINATE ’ THE LDR (KEEPING ALL THE LAMPS
AT A FIXED DISTANCE).
(B) THE DISTANCE OF A INCANDESCENT LAMP (OF FIXED
POWER) USED TO ‘ILLUMINATE’ THE LDR.

NAME:- ASHUTOSH SWAIN

CLASS:-XII
ROLL NUMBER:
 CERTIFICATE
This is hereby to certify that, the original and genuine investigation work has
been carried out to “ Study the variations in current flowing in a circuit
containing an LDR ” andthe related data collection and investigation has been
completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily done by Ashutosh Swain a
student of class XII under the ROLL NO.- for the academic session
2022-2023, Regarding theinvestigatory project entitled “To study the
variations in current flowing in a circuit containing an LDR because of a
variation in (a) The Power Of The Incandescent Lamp, Used To ‘ Illuminate ’
The LDR (Keeping All The Lamps At A Fixed Distance). (b) The Distance Of A
Incandescent Lamp (Of Fixed Power) Used To ‘Illuminate’ The Ldr”, For
physics department under direct supervision of the undersigned as for
requirement for the board examination.

EXAMINER'S SIGNATURE TEACHER’S SIGNATURE

PRINCIPAL’S SIGNATURE
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my Physics teacher Mr. Ashwini Udgata for his
constant guidance, motivation, moral encouragement and sympathetic
attitude towards the success of this project.
I also want to thank the principal and the institution for providing the
necessary materials.
I would also like to extend my gratitude towards the lab attendant, my
parents and everyone who has helped me in completing the project
successfully.

ASHUTOSH SWAIN

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 INDEX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i

CERTIFICATE ii

INTRODUCTION 01

APPLICATIONS 02

AIM & APPARATUS 03

THEORY 04

PROCEDURE 09

OBSERVATIONS 10

RESULT & CONCLUSION 12

SOURCES OF ERROR 13

BIBLIOGRAPHY 14

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 INTRODUCTION

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 frommoisture and dust and allows only light to fall
on it.

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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

*LDR has a disadvantage that when its temperature changes, its resistancechanges
drastically for a particular light intensity.

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 AIM & APPARATUS

AIM:
To study the variations, in current flowing in a circuitcontaining a
LDR, because of a variation:-

(a) In the power of the incandescent lamp, used to

‘illuminate’ the LDR. (Keeping all the lamps at a fixed
distance).

(b) In the distance of a incandescent lamp, (of fixed power),

used to ‘illuminate’ the LDR.

APPARATUS:
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Connecting Wires
Source of different power rating (bulbs)Bulb
Holder
Metre scale
Multi Meter
Battery

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 THEORY

1.) 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, in Ev

Here we must note that any radiation with wavelength greater than the
value obtained in above equation CANNOT PRODUCE any change in the
resistance of thisdevice.

The band gap energy of Cadmium Sulphide is 2.42eV

and for Cadmium Selenide it is1.74eV. Due to such large
energy gaps, both the materials have extremely high resistivity
at room temperature.

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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 toabout 970nm.

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Sensitivity

The sensitivity of a photo detector is the relationshipbetween 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 ofthe cell.

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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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2.) luminous flux variation:
Considering the source to be a point radiating in all
directions; consider a steradian (or even a simple sphere),
take a small element dA on the steradian at adistance ‘r’
from the source. It comprises a small part of the energy
radiated (dEr).
Now, go further to a distance ‘R’ (R>r) from the
source, consider the same area element dA, it
comprises a much smaller part of energy radiated
(dER).
[dEr > dER].
It varies inversely as the square of the distance.

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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 suitablerange 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 thecurrent.
 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

1.) 15 watts (yellow) (wavelength = 570nm)

Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)
1. 50 142.5 40
2. 40 69 80
3. 30 41 150
4. 20 21 300

2.) 15 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength = 610nm

Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)

1. 50 51 120
2. 40 35 170
3. 30 22 270
4. 20 11 540

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3.) 40 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength = 610nm)

Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT

No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)

1. 50 20 300
2. 40 13 460
3. 30 8.5 700
4. 20 4.5 1330

4.) 20 watts (CFL) (white light)

Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT

No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)

1. 50 15.5 380
2. 40 10 600
3. 30 6 1000
4. 20 3 2000

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CONCLUSION & RESULT

 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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 SOURCES OF ERROR

 The LDR may not be perpendicular to the source.

 Connections may be faulty.

 The experiment should be conducted in a darkroom.

 Measurements should be taken accurately.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

 NCERT physics class XII

 Art of Electronics by paul worowitz

 www.electronics2000.co.uk/links/education-hobby/

 www.ecelab.com/

 WWW.Seminarsonly.com

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