Lab1 ENGI12195 - Practical Circuits

Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

Faculty of Applied Science and Technology

Lab 1 – LED and LDR

Student Name_________________________ Student Number_________________________

Objective: To use an LDR to control the brightness of an LED

Parts List (available from the tool crib):

1 light dependent resistor (LDR)
3 light emitting diodes (LED) (red, green)
1 breadboard (Protoboard)

Bench Equipment: Power Supply, Digital Multi-Meter (DMM)

Light Sensor (LDR):

A photocell (light sensor) or light-dependent resistor (LDR) is a resistor whose resistance decreases with
increasing incident light intensity.

LDR

Light emitting diode (LED):

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes
through it.

* Look inside the LED for two kind of triangle pieces. One of them is smaller which is positive and the bigger one is
negative.

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Lab1 ENGI12195 - Practical Circuits

Procedure:
1. Use the bench digital multimeter (DMM) to measure and record the resistance of the LDR. Then cover it
with your finger and repeat the measurement.
Bench DMM
R uncovered= __________ Press the “Ω 2W”

R covered= __________

2. Using a breadboard, assemble the circuit as shown below. If the LED does not illuminate reverse the legs of
the LED.
Bench Power Supply

CH3, +5V

3. Keep the power supply connected to the circuit, measure the voltage across the LDR as you cover and
uncover the LDR. Record you results below.

VLDR (uncovered)= VLDR(Covered)=

4. Replace the LED with another LED (different color), record your results below:

VLDR (uncovered)= VLDR(Covered)=