To study the variation in current flowing in LDR

business (Salwan Public School)

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Subhash public sen. sec.
school
2023-2024
Physics Investigatory project

Topic: - to study variation in current

flowing in circuit containing a LDR

Submitted to: - MR.AKSHAY MISHRA

(Pgt physics)

Submitted by: - HIMANSHU JHA

Class : - xii (a)

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that HIMANSHU JHA

has successfully completed the project
file on the topic to study variation in
current flowing in circuit containing
a LDR under the guidance and
supervision of MR.AKSHAY MISHRa (pgt
physics) during year 2023 - 2024 in
partial fulfillment of chemistry practical
examination conducted by ASSCE, NEW
DELHI.

TEACHER IN-CHARGE EXTERNAL EXAMINAR

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 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my immense gratitude

to my chemistry teacher MR.akshay mishra
(pgt physics), for the help and guidance they
provided for completing the investigatory
project.

I also thank my parents who gave ideas

and inputs in completing this project.
Most of all I would like to thank my school
management, for providing me the facility
and opportunity to do this project.

At last I would like to thank my

classmates whose support made this
project fruitful.

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 ~
Himanshu Jha

Index

• ABSTRACT
• OBJECTIVE
• THEORY
• MATERIAL REQUIRED
• PROCEDURE
• OBSERVATION
• APPLICATION
• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCE

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 Abstract

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.

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 Objective

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.

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 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 photoconductive
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

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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

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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.

Materials Required:-

• Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

• Connecting Wires

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• Source of different power
rating (bulbs)
• Bulb Holder
• Meter scale
• Multi Meter
• Battery

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

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• Value of the current. Repeat these steps with
different power sources at different distances and
note down

Circuit diagram

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Observations:-
The experiment has been conducted by using various
sources with different power ratings. Voltage of the
battery= 6 V
2) 15 watts (yellow) ( wavelength 570nm)

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

o Source (cm) (kilo ohm) (micro amphere)
1 50 142.5 40
2 40 69 80
3 30 41 150
4 20 21 300
2) 15 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength
610nm)

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

o Source (cm) (kilo ohm) (micro amphere)
1 50 51 120
2 40 35 170
3 30 22 270
4 20 11 540

3) 40 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength

610nm)

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

(micro amphere)

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o Source (cm) (kilo ohm)
1 50 20 300
2 40 13 460
3 30 8.5 700
4 20 4.5 1330

4) 20 watts (CFL) (white light)

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

o Source (cm) (kilo ohm) (micro amphere)
1 50 15.5 380
2 40 10 600
3 30 6 1000
4 20 3 2000

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

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 • 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.

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 • 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
1. Search engines used:
➢ www.google.com
➢ www.wikipedia.com
➢ www.reader.google.com

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 ➢ www.labs.google.com
➢ www.quora.com
2. Practical Physics by Laxmi Publications.
3. The Family Encyclopedia by Dorling
Kindersley.

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