INDIAN SCHOOL MUSCAT

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

2023

Name :- JERRY MATTHEW

Class :-12
Section :- F
Roll No :- 35

Aim:- To study the variations, in current flowing in a circuit

containing a LDR.
Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my Physics teacher Mrs. Meera for his

constant guidance, and motivation. I would also like to thank
Mr.Deepak Kesari for his valuable advice.
I also want to thank the principal, Mr. Rakesh Joshifor 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.

Jerry
ISM
 CERTIFICATE
❖ Guided By : Mr. Surender Puli
❖ Class : 12 A
❖ Year : 2016-17
❖ Board Roll No. :
❖ School : Vidyagyan

Certified to be the bona fide work is done by Master Himanshu of class 12 in the
Physics Lab during the year 2016-17.
Date:
Submitted to Central Board of Secondary
Education. Examination held in Physics Lab
at Vidyagyan.

Examiner
Date:
INDEX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i

CERTIFICATE ii

INTRODUCTION 01

APPLICATIONS 02

AIM & APPARATUS 03

THEORY 04

PROCEDURE 07

OBSERVATIONS 08

RESULT & CONCLUSION 10

SOURCES OF ERROR 10

BIBLIOGRAPHY 10

iii
 INTRODUCTION

A photoresistor or light dependent resistor is a component that is sensitive to light.

When light falls upon it then the resistance changes. Values of the resistance of the
LDR may change over many orders of magnitude the value of the resistance falling
as the level of light increases.

It is not uncommon for the values of resistance of an LDR or photoresistor to be

several megohms in darkness and then to fall to a few hundred ohms in bright light.
With such a wide variation in resistance, LDRs are easy to use and there are many
LDR circuits available. The sensitivity of light dependent resistors or photoresistors
also varies with the wavelength of the incident light.

LDRs are made from semiconductor materials to enable them to have their light
sensitive properties. Many materials can be used, but one popular material for
these photoresistors is cadmium sulphide, CdS.

Types of photoresistor

Light dependent resistors, LDRs or photoresistors fall into one of two types or
categories:

● Intrinsic photoresistors: Intrinsic photoresistors use un-doped semiconductor

materials including silicon or germanium. Photons fall on the LDR excite electrons
moving them from the valence band to the conduction band. As a result, these
electrons are free to conduct electricity. The more light that falls on the device,
the more electrons are liberated and the greater the level of conductivity, and
this results in a lower level of resistance.
● Extrinsic photoresistors: Extrinsic photoresistors are manufactured from
semiconductor of materials doped with impurities. These impurities or dopants
create a new energy band above the existing valence band. As a result, electrons
need less energy to transfer to the conduction band because of the smaller
energy gap.
Regardless of the type of light dependent resistor or photoresistor, both types
exhibit an increase in conductivity or fall in resistance with increasing levels of
incident light.
LDR symbol

The LDR symbol used in circuits is based around the resistor circuit symbol, but
shows the light, in the form of arrows shining on it. In this way it follows the same
convention used for photodiode and phototransistor circuit symbols where arrows
are used to show the light falling on these components.

Circuit symbols used for the light dependent resistor / photoresistor

The light dependent resistor / photoresistor circuit symbols are shown for both the
newer style resistor symbol, i.e. a rectagular box and the older zig-zag line resistor
circuit symbols.
 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 resistance
changes drastically for a particular light intensity.
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 AIM & APPARATUS

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:

● Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

● Connecting Wires

● Source of different power rating (bulbs)

● Bulb Holder

● Metre scale

● Multi Meter

● Battery
 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 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
13
resistance. This resistance is typically of the order of 10 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

4
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.

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.
5
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.
6
 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.
7
 OBSERVATIONS

The experiment has been conducted by using various

sources with different power ratings. Voltage of the battery =
6V

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
o The LDR resistance decreases with increase in intensity
of light and hence there is an increase in the flow of
current.
o There is an increase in the current as the distance from
the source decreases.
o The intensity decreases as the distance from the source
increases.

SOURCES OF ERROR
o The LDR may not be perpendicular to the source.
o Connections may be faulty.
o The experiment should be conducted in a dark room.

o Measurements should be taken accurately.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
o NCERT Physics
o www.technologystudent.com/elec1/ldr1.htm
o www.electrical4u.com/light-dependent-resistor-ldr-working-principle-of-ldr/
o https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/resistors/lig
ht- dependent-resistor-ldr.php
o
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