ST.
JOHN’S SCHOOL, RANCHI
TOPIC- To study the variations in current flowing in a circuit containing an
LDR because of variations 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 incandescent lamp (of fixed power used to illuminate the
LDR)
NAME- Mohammad Raiyan
CLASS- 12 A
SUBJECT – Physics (042)
BOARD ROLL NO. -
EXAM ROLL NO. -
YEAR- 2024-2025
SUBMITTED BY SUBMITTED To
MOHAMMAD RAIYAN Mrs. SANDHYA SINGH
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that, Mohammad Raiyan, a
student of St. John’s School, Ranchi has submitted
the physics project report entitled ‘To study the
variations in current flowing in a circuit containing an
LDR because of variations 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 incandescent lamp (of fixed power
used to illuminate the LDR) under the guidance of
physics teacher, miss Sandhya Singh, submitted for
partial fulfillment and practical examination to the
department pf physics embodies detailed study by me.
INTERNAL EXAMINAR EXTERNAL EXAMINER
PRINCIPAL SIGNATURE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all
those who have helped me complete this school
project successfully.
I am extremely thankful to my project guide, miss
Sandhya Singh , my physics teacher, for invaluable
guidance, encouragement and support throughout this
project. She provided me direction, reviewed my
progress and results, and helped me clarify my doubts.
I sincerely appreciate the time and effort she put into
supervising my project.
I am grateful to our school Principal, Fr. Ignatius Lakra
for providing us the resources and facilities to enable
our project work. he took keen interest in my project
and motivated me to give my best efforts.
My special thanks to my family, they encouraged me at
every step, and helped me manage my time effectively.
Their faith in my abilities inspired me to take on this
project.
I could not have completed this project successfully
without the support of all these people. I will always be
indebted for everything they have done for me.
INDEX
SL N0. TOPIC SIGN
1 AIM
2 THEORY
3 CIRCUIT
DIAGRAM
4 PROCEDURE
5 OBSERVATIONS
6 APPLICATION
7 PRECAUTIONS
8 CONCLUSION
9 BIBLOGRAPHY
AIM :-
To study the variations in current flowing in a
circuit containing 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 :-
1-Light Dependent Resistor(LDR)
2-Connecting Wires
3-Source of different power rating(bulbs)
4-Bulb holder
5-Metre scale
6-Multi meter
7- Battery
THEORY:-
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 material
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
are 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.
•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 photoconductive transducer has the
resistance which is the inverse function of
radiation intensity.
= (h. c)/(e. E)
= threshold wavelength, in metres
e= charge on one electron, in Coulombs
E= 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 this device. The
band energy of Cadmium Sulphide is 2.42
eV and for Cadmium Selenide, it is 1.74 eV.
Due to such large energy gaps, both the
materials have extremely high resistivity at
room temperature.
•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
colour 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 Calcium
Sulphoselenide is in the yellow-orange
range at 615nm and also it can be used in
the infra-red region up to about 970nm.
•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(colour) 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.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM :
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.
•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 blub 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.
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 No. Distance Resistance Current
from (kilo ohm) (micro
source(cm) ampere)
1. 50 142.5 40
2. 40 69 80
3. 30 41 150
4. 20 21 300
2.)15 watts (incandescent) (mean
wavelength=610 nm)
Serial No. Distance Resistance Current
From (kilo ohm) (micro
Source(cm) ampere)
1. 50 51 120
2. 40 35 170
3. 30 22 270
4. 20 11 540
3.)40 watts (incandescent) (mean
wavelength=610 nm)
Serial No. Distance Resistance Current
From (kilo ohm) (micro
Source(cm) ampere)
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 No. Distance Resistance Current
From (kilo ohm) (micro
Source(cm) ampere)
1. 50 15.5 380
2. 40 10 600
3. 30 6 1000
4. 20 3 2000
APPLICATIONS :-
Lead Sulphide (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.
1.)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
2.) Digital Applications:-
•Automatic Headlight Dimmer
•Night Light Control
•Oil Burner Flame Out
•Street Light Control
•Position Sensor
PRECAUTIONS :-
1.)The source of light must be adjusted so
that light falls normally on LDR.
2.)Select suitable range of current in
multimeter.
3.)Source of light must radiate light
continuously.
4.)Connect LDR carefully to the voltage
source.
5.)The distance between LDR and source
should be measured accurately.
CONCLUSIONS :-
•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.
BIBLIOGRAPHY :-
•NCERT physiCs Class Xii
•CompREhENsivE pRaCTiCal physiCs
by laXmi publiCaTioNs
• www.wikipedia.org
• www.scribd.com
