A

Project Report On
Study the variation of current flowing in a circuit having
LDR
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement of
CBSE for CLASS XII : PHYSICS
By
R. AravinthPandian
ROLL NO. : 02

Under the supervision of

Mr. G. MUTHU KRISHNAN
PGT PHYSICS

ARUMUGHAM PALANIGURU MODERN SCHOOL

(Hi – Tech Senior Secondary CBSE School)
Chatrapatti
2022-23
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that R. AravinthPandian (Roll No.:

_________) of Class XII – A (Science),
ArumughamPalaniguru Modern School, Chatrapatti, has
completed the project under my guidance. He had taken proper
care and showed sincerity in completing this project work. I
certify that, this project is up to my satisfaction and as per the
guidelines issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education
2021-2022.

Internal Examiner Principal External Examiner

(School’s Seal)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to our management

for encouraging me to complete this project.
I would like to express my special thanks to my teacher
Mr.G.MUTHU KRISHNAN as well as our principal
Mr.S.SATHYA MOORTHY who gave me this golden
opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic
“STUDY THE VARIATION OF CURRENT FLOWING IN
A CIRCUIT HAVING LDR ”, which also helped me in
doing a lot of research and I came to know about so many
new things.
I would like to thank my parents and friends who helped
me a lot in finalising this project within the limited time
frame.
CONTENT:
 INTRODUCTION
 THEORY
 AIM
 MATERIAL REQUIRD
 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
 PROCEDURE
 APPLICATION
 CONCLUSION
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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 from moisture
and dust and allows only light to fall on it.
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 this device. 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.
2.) 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.
3.) 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.
4.) 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.
AIM:
To study the variation in current flowing in a circuit having
LDR because of a variation:
i. In the powerof the incandescent lamp, used to ‘illuminate’
the LDR(Keeping all the lamps at a fixed distance).
ii. In the distance of a incandescent lamps,(of fixed
power),used to ‘illuminate’ the LDR.
MATERIAL REQUIRED:
 Light Dependent Resistor(LDR)

 Connecting Wire
 Bulbs

 Bulb Holder
 Metre Scale

 Multi Meter
 Battery
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
PROCEDURE:
1. Arrange the apparatus.
2. Now set the knob of multimeter on the point marked
current.
3. Place a thick piece of black paper on the LDR, so that no
light fall on LDR. Record the current in multimeter.
4. Remove the black paper from the LDR. Record the current
in multimeter in presence of normal light in the laboratory
and determine the resistance of LDR by using, R=V\I.
5. Now measure the resistance LDR by placing a lamp of
25W over it.
6. Now measure the resistance for all lamps say 40W, 60W,
100W & 200W by replacing 25W lamp, one by one.
7. Now, select any one lamp(say 60W) and move it towards
the LDR for a distance 10cm and note the electric current
in multimeter.
8. Move the same lamp towards the LDR to a distance of 8cm
and again record the current.
9. Similarly, record the current in multimeter for the distance
6cm, 4cm and 2cm.
APPLICATION:
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.
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
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.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
 https://pdfcoffee.com/to-study-the-variations-of-
current-flowing-in-a-circuit-contaiang-ldr-pdf-
free.html
 https://www.google.co.in/
 https://www.seminarsonly.com/Engineering-
Projects/Physics/variation-of-current.php