PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT

TOPIC: STUDY OF VARIATION IN

CURRENT FLOWING IN LDR CIRCUIT

SUBMITTED BY: Aryan Mukherjee

AISSCE: 2023-24
CLASS: XII
SECTION: J
ROLL NUMBER:10
BOARD ROLL NUMBER:

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL RUBY

PARK, KOLKATA
 CONTENTS:
SERIAL NO. TOPIC Page
number
1 Certificate 3

2 Acknowledgement 4

3 Aim of Project 5

4 Apparatus 6

5 Introduction 7

6 Theory 7-11

7 Procedure 12

8 Observation 13-15

9 Conclusion 16

10 Precautions 17

11 Sources of Error 17

11 Bibliography 17
 CERTIFICATE:

This is to certify that Aryan Mukherjee,

a bonafide student of Delhi Public School, Ruby Park,
Kolkata, Standard XII, Section ‘J’, has successfully
completed the physics investigatory project on:

“STUDY OF VARIATION OF CURRENT IN

LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR”

during the year 2023-24 as per CBSE guidelines for the

AISSCE Practical Examination 2024.

External Examiner Internal Examiner

__________________ ________________

Date: ______________ Date: ______________

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I express my sincere gratitude towards my physics teacher,

Mr. Pradip Singha Roy, for guiding me in this venture and
encouraging me to explore new ideas.
I am incredibly grateful towards our respected Principal, Ms.
Joyoti Chaudhuri, for providing us the opportunity to carry
out such intriguing work.
I would also like to thank the laboratory assistant for helping
us during our practical training and answering our queries.
Central Board of Secondary Education, India should also be
acknowledged for designing such a scientific curriculum that
requires us to research and move beyond textbook learning.
I am also extremely grateful to my family for extending their
unconditional support at all times.
 AIM OF PROJECT:
To study the variation in current flowing in a circuit containing an
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 an incandescent lamp, of fixed power used to
illuminate the LDR.
 APPARATUS:
1) A Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
2) A battery of 6 W
3) A source of light (as lamps 25 Watt, 40 Watt, 60 Watt, 100 Watt
and 200 Watt)
4) A multimeter (micrometer).
5) Connecting wires
6) Metre Scale
7) Bulb Holder
 INTRODUCTION:
A photo-resistor or light dependent resistor is a constituent that is
sensitive to light. The resistance varies when light falls upon it. Value
for the resistance may change over many orders of magnitude, the
value of resistance falling with rise in the level of light.

It can be many mega ohms in darkness and then to fall to a few

hundred ohms in bright light. With such a wide range variation in
resistance, LDR's are easy to use. There are many LDR circuits
available. The sensitivity of light dependent resistors also fluctuates
with the wavelength of the incident light. LDRs are finished formed
from semiconductor constituents to allow them to have the light
sensitive characteristics. Cadmium sulfide is a very commonly used
material. These resistors use pure semi-conductors like silicon or
germanium. When the light falls on the LDR, the electrons get excited
by the incident photons and move from the valence band to the
conductions band and hence the number of charge carriers increase. In
other words, the conductivity goes up.
 THEORY:
Light dependent resistor is a resistor whose resistance changes with
the intensity of light incident on it.
It is made of cadmium sulfide. The resistance of LDR is 10 Mega
Ohm in full dark. And to about 10 to the power minus 4 mega Ohm in
daylight. The resistance of LDR decreases with increase in the
intensity of light.

1. LDR and its characteristics:

We have already highlighted how the incident photons cause the

excitation of electrons from the valence to the conduction bands.
Due to such electrons coming up in the conduction band area,
the electrical resistance decreases.
Thus the LDR or Photo Conductive Tranducer has the resistance
which is an inverse function of radiation intensity.
2. Characteristics of Photoconductive Cells:

When the device is kept in the dark, the resistance is called as

the DARK RESISTANCE. This resistance is of the order 1013
ohms. 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 with a range of 520nm. Thus it can
be used nearer to the infrared region up to 750 nm

3. Sensitivity:

Sensitivity of a photo detector is the relation between the light

falling on the device and the resulting output signal, i.e. the
relationship between incident light and the corresponding
resistance of the cell.
4. Spectral Response:

Like the Human eye, the relative sensitivity of a

photoconductive cell is also dependent on the wavelength
(colour) of the light falling. Each photoconductor have their own
unique curve for spectral response or the plot of relative
response of photocell vs wavelength.
 APPLICATIONS OF LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR:

Lead sulphide and Indium sulphide LDR's are used for the mid infrared spectral
region. Germanium copper 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
● Calorimetric test equipment
● 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
CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS:
 PROCEDURE:
1. Arrange the apparatus as shown in circuit diagram.
2. Now, set the knob of the multi meter on the point marked current.
3. Place a thick piece of black paper on the LDR so that no light falls
on LDR. Record the current on multi meter.
4. Remove the black paper from the LDR. Record the current and
multimeter in presence of normal light in the laboratory and
determine the resistance of LDR by using R=V/I
5. Now measure the resistance of all lamps one by one.
7. Now select anyone lamp and move it towards the LDR and note the
electric current in multi meter, with varying distances.

Fig: The LDR Experimental Setup

 OBSERVATIONS:
1) The emf at battery: 9V
2) Range of multimeter: 200 mV to 1000 V and from 20 μA to 20
A.
3) LC of multimeter: 0.25 A and 0.1 V
4) Zero error of multimeter: 0 V AND 0 A

1) Variation with Current:

Distance between LDR and source =20cm

S. Distance Source of Power Resistance Current

No. between source Inputs(W) R(ohm) I(mA)
and LDR(cm)

1 20 25 445 20.11
2 20 40 270 32.79

3 20 40 205 43.09

Distance between LDR and Source=40cm

S. Distance between Source of Resistance Current

No. source and LDR(cm) Power R(ohm) I(mA)
Inputs(W)

1 40 25 610 14.74

2 40 40 415 21.46

3 40 60 325 27.09
 Distance between LDR and Source=50cm

S. Distance between Source of Resistance Current

No. source and LDR(cm) Power R(ohm) I(mA)
Inputs(W)
1 50 25 758 11.78
2 50 40 505 17.91

3 50 60 415 21.71

Distance between LDR and Source=60cm

S. Distance between Source of Resistance Current

No. source and Power R(ohm) I(mA)
LDR(cm) Inputs(W)
1 60 25 835 10.67

2 60 40 620 14.55

3 60 60 490 18.35

2) Variation with Distance:

For Power Source=25W

S. Distance between source and Resistance Current

No. LDR(cm) R(ohm) I(mA)
1 20 445 20.11
2 40 610 14.74
3 50 758 11.78

4 60 835 10.67
 5 80 1005 8.92

For Power Source=40W

S. Distance between source and Resistance Current

No. LDR(cm) R(ohm) I(mA)

1 20 270 32.79

2 40 415 21.46

3 50 505 17.91

4 60 620 14.55

5 80 813 11.13

For Power Source=60W

S. Distance between source and Resistance Current

No. LDR(cm) R(ohm) I(mA)

1 20 205 43.09

2 40 325 27.09

3 50 415 21.71

4 60 490 18.35

5 80 745 12.07
 CONCLUSIONS:

1. The electric current flowing through a circuit containing LDR

increases and resistance decreases with increase in power
(intensity) of the lamps. Hence the incidence of LDR decreases.
2.The electric current flowing in a circuit containing LDR
increases with decrease the distance between source of fixed
power and LDR. Hence, as the distance between light source
and LDR increases, the resistance of the LDR decreases and
vice versa.
3. Its intensity decreases as distance from source increases.

Fig: CIE chromaticity diagram for CCTV cameras

 PRECAUTIONS:
1. The source of light must be adjusted so that light cross
normally on LDR.
2. Select suitable range of current in multimeter.
3. Source of light must radiate light continuously.
4. Connect LDR carefully to the voltage source.
5. The distance between source and LDR must be measured
accurately.

SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The LDR may not be perpendicular to light source.
2. Circuit connections may be faulty.
3. The experiments should be conducted in a dark room.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1) Comprehensive Practical Physics Class XII

2) NCERT Physics
3) https://www.watelectronics.com/light-dependent-resistor-ldr-
with-applications
4) What are the applications of LDR (light dependent resistors)?
- Semiconductor for You (semiconductorforu.com)
5) Wikipedia
6) Britannica
7) https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/11/LDR-circuit-dark-detector-
1024x729.png

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