DAV PUBIC SCHOOL

UNIT-VIII, BHUBANESWAR
Physics Investigatory Project
ALL INDIA SENIOR SECONDARY CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
(Session-2023-24)

TOPIC-LDR (LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR)

REPORTED BY- Manish Dash
CLASS-XII-D
ROLL NUMBER-
GUIDED BY- Ms. Anindita Rath
PGT(Physics)

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 CERTIFICATE
It is hereby to certify that the original and genuine
research work is carried out to investigate about the
subject matter and the related data collection and
has been completed solely and satisfactorily by
Manish Dash, Class XII-D, roll number………………………
regarding the project titled “LIGHT DEPENDENT
RESISTOR (LDR)” for the fulfilment of the
requirement of AISSCE syllabus of the school. This
embodies the work done by him under my
supervision.

Ms. Anindita Rath

PGT(Physics)
DAV Public School, Unit-VIII

(Signature of Internal Examiner) (Signature of External Examiner)

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude
to Ms. Anindita Rath, my Physics teacher, who gave
me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful
project on topic “LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR
(LDR)” which also helped me in doing a lot of
research and I came to know about so many new
things. Hence, I am really thankful her.

With great pleasure, I also extend my gratitude to me

parents and friends who helped me a lot in finalizing
this project successfully within the limited time
frame.

Sign of Candidate

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 CONTENT
SL.NO TITLE PAGE
1. Front Page 1-1
2. Certificate 2-2
3. Acknowledgement 3-3
4. Content 4-4
5. Introduction 5-5
6. Principle 6-6
7. Parts of an LDR 7-7
8. Functions and Benefits 8-8
9. Applications 9-9
10. Aim of the experiment 10-10
11. Apparatus Required 11-11
12. Theory 12-12
13. Procedure 13-14
14. Observations 15-15
15. Diagram of Circuit 16-16
16. Conclusion 17-17
17. Precaution 18-18
18. Sources of Error 18-18
19. Bibliography 19-19
20. Thank You 20-20

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 INTRODUCTION
An LDR, also called the ‘general purpose
photoconductive cell’, is a small round
semiconductor and its conductivity changes
proportionally with the change in the intensity of
light. It is a resistor whose resistance decreases with
increasing incident light intensity. In other words, it
exhibits photoconductivity.
An LDR is made of high resistance semiconductor. If
the light falling on the device has frequency that is
high enough then the photons absorbed by the
semiconductor give the bound electrons enough
energy to jump into the conduction band. The
resulting free electrons (and its hole partner) conduct
electricity, thereby lowering resistance.

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 PRINCIPLE
An LDR works on the principle of photoconductivity.
In a Semiconductor, an energy gap exists between
the conduction electrons and valence electrons.
Whenever the light falls on the photoconductive
material, it absorbs its energy and the electrons of
that photoconductive material that are in the valence
band get excited and go to the conduction band and
the electrical resistance of the device decreases. This
increases the conductivity as per the increase in light
intensity. Thus, the LDR has the resistance which is
the inverse function of radiation intensity.

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PARTS OF AN LDR

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 FUNCTION & BENEFITS
The main purpose of a light dependent resistance is
to change the brightness of a light in different
weather conditions. This can be easily explained with
the use of a watch. Some watches start to glow in the
dark making it possible to see the time without
having to press any buttons. It is the light dependent
resistor that allows the watch to know when it is dark
and changes the emission levels of the light at that
time.
There are many benefits of Light Dependent
Resistors:
 Their sensitivity is high and they can be triggered
by various triggers, rendering them useful for
motion light and security systems.
 They are simple & small devices.
 They can be easily used.
 They are inexpensive.
 The light-dark resistance ratio is high.
 They allow less power to be used in many
different lights.
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 APPLICATIONS
 The LDR is used in the infrared astronomy.
 The LDR is used in light failure alarm circuits and
used in light meter.
 The LDR used in smoke detectors.
 It is used for automatic contrast and brightness
control in television receivers.
 It is used in optical coding.
 It is used in street light control circuits.
 It is used in camera light meters.
 It is used in the burglar alarm circuits.
 It is used in light activated control circuits.
 In the manufacturing industry, LDR is used as a
sensor for the counting of the packets moving on
a conveyor belt.

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AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT
To study the variations in current flowing in a circuit
containing LDR, because of a variation: -
A) In the power of the incandescent lamp used to
illuminate LDR (keeping all the lamps fixed at a
distance).
B) In the distance of an incandescent lamp (of a fixed
power) to illuminate the LDR.

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 APPARATUS REQURIED
 A light dependent resistance
 A battery of 9V
 A source of light (such as lamp of different power
ratings)
 A Bulb Holder
 A multimeter (Micro Ammeter)
 Connecting wires
 A ruler (optional)

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 THEORY
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.

It is made of Cadmium Sulphide (CdS). The resistance

of LDR decreases with increases in the intensity of
light.
1
R α 𝐼 where R= Resistance of LDR
I=Intensity of incident light

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 PROCEDURE
To study the variations in current flowing in the
circuit containing LDR because of variations in the
power bulbs used to eliminate LDR.
1. A specific position for the source of light was
chosen and it was mounted using a holder and it
was made sure that the source was stable. A bulb
was connected to the holder.
2. The LDR battery and the multimeter were
connected in series.
3. Now the bob of multimeter was set on the point
marked current.
4. A thick piece of black paper was placed on the
LDR such that light fell on it.
5. The current in the multimeter was recorded.
6. Now, the black paper was removed from the LDR.
The current in the multimeter was recorded in the
presence of normal light in the laboratory. The
resistance of LDR was determined by the formula
R=V/I.
7. Resistance is measured placing a bulb of suitable
power over it.
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8. Now the resistance of LDR was measured for
different powers of bulbs one by one.

To study the variations in current flowing in a circuit

containing LDR because of a variation in the
distance of source of light (Bulb).
1. Now, any one of the bulbs was selected and was
moved towards the LDR till a convenient distance.
2. The electric current in the multimeter was
recorded for different distances of the bulb from
the LDR.

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 OBSERVATIONS
 Table for different powers of bulb used
SL.no Mode of light Electric Resistance
current (I) R=V/I
(in ampere) (in ohm)
1. Black Paper 0 indefinite
2. 25 W 8.3 1.08
3. 40 W 12 0.75
4. 100 W 20.5 0.43
5. 200 W 28 0.32
 Here I have taken constant distance as 22 cm.

 Table For different distances of 25 W bulb

SL.no Distance Electric Resistance
between Source current (I) R=V/I
and LDR (in ampere) (in ohm)
1. 22 cm 8.3 1.08
2. 15 cm 11.4 0.78
3. 20 cm 8.7 1.03
4. 26 cm 7.3 1.23
5. 33 cm 6.5 1.38

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DIAGRAM OF CIRCUIT

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 CONCLUSION
1. From Table 1, it is concluded that the electric
Current flowing through the circuit containing an LDR
increases with the increase in the power (intensity) of
the bulbs.
2. From Table 2, it is concluded that the electric
Current flowing in a circuit containing an LDR
increases with the increases in distance between the
source of fixed power and LDR.
3. Hence, it is concluded that with increase in distance
between light source and LDR, the resistance of LDR
decreases and vice-versa.

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 PRECAUTIONS
 The source of the light must be adjusted such
that the light falls normally on the LDR.
 Suitable range must be selected in the
multimeter.
 Source of the light must radiate light constantly.
 LDR should be carefully connected to the voltage
source.
 The distance between the LDR and the source
must be measured carefully.

SOURCES OF ERROR
 The multimeter used may be faulty.
 The lower quality LDR may get melted on
exposure to high power bulbs.
 The source of light used may not be a source of
emission.
 Connections may be faulty.
 Measurement may not be accurate.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. www.google.com
2. www.wikipedia.org
3. www.yahoo.com
4. NCERT CLASS XII PHYSICS TEXT BOOK
5. COMPREHENSIVE LAB MANUAL
6. SL ARORA TEXTBOOK

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