THE BLUE BELLS E.M.

SCHOOL

JHARSUGUDA

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

ON
“ To study the variations in current flowing
in a circuit containing a LDR ”

GUIDED BY: SUBMITTED BY:

MR. AMAN YADAV PITAMBAR SAHOO
CLASS – XII
SESSION - (2023-
2024)
 CERTIFICATE

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT SIPUN MAHARANA OF CLASS-XII HAS

SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HIS PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT ON THE TOPIC-
“ To study the variations in current flowing in a circuit
containing a LDR ”
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MR. AMAN YADAV SIR DURING THE
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024.

AS PER THE GUIDELINES ISSUED BY CENTRAL BOARD

OF SECONDARY EDUCATION – CBSE.

_____________________ _____________________
SUBJECT TEACHER EXTERNAL EXAMINOR

_____________________
PRINCIPAL
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere
thank to our physics guide Mr. Aman
Yadav for his guidance and support in
completing my project.
I would like to extend my gratitude to
our Principal Mrs. Sanchali Mukherjee
for providing us with all the facilities
that were required.I would also like to
thanks my parents and friends who
helped me with the necessary
suggestion and ideas for completing
this project.
 Index
Sl.No Topic Pg.No

Certificate
1

2 Acknowledgement

3 Index

4 Aim

Introduction
5

6 Theory

7 Material Required

8 Circuit Diagram

9 Procedure

10 Observation

11 Application

12 Conclusion
13 Bibliography
 AIM OF THE
EXPERIMENT
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.
 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.

where, 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.

5.) Luminious flux variation

Considering the source to be a point radiating in all directions.
Consider a steradian(or even a simple sphere), take a small element
dA on the steradian at adistance ‘r’ from the source. It comprises a
much smaller part of energy radiated(dEr).
Now, go further to a distance ‘R’(R<r) from the source, consider the
small area element dA , it comprises a much smaller part of energy
radiated(dER).
[dEr > dER]
It varies inversely as the square of the distance.
 MATERIALS REQUIRED

 Light Dependent Resistor

(LDR)
 Connecting Wires
 Source of different power
rating (bulbs)
 Bulb Holder
 Metre scale
 Multi Meter
 Battery

LDR
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 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
 OBSERVATION
• The experiment has been conducted by using various sources
with different power ratings. Voltage of the battery= 6 V

1.

2.

3.

4.
 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
 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
 NCERT physics class XII
 Art of Electronics by paul worowitz
 www.wikipedia.com
 www.electronics2000.co.uk/links/education-hobby
 www.ecelab.com