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PHYSCIS

The document describes the characteristics and applications of light dependent resistors (LDRs). LDRs, also known as photoconductive cells, are semiconductors whose conductivity decreases with increasing light intensity. Common materials used are cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide. The resistance of an LDR decreases when illuminated, allowing it to be used in applications like camera light meters, photocopiers, and automatic lighting controls. The document discusses experiments measuring how the current through an LDR changes with light source power and distance. LDRs have various analog and digital uses that rely on their photoconductive properties.

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16 views

PHYSCIS

The document describes the characteristics and applications of light dependent resistors (LDRs). LDRs, also known as photoconductive cells, are semiconductors whose conductivity decreases with increasing light intensity. Common materials used are cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide. The resistance of an LDR decreases when illuminated, allowing it to be used in applications like camera light meters, photocopiers, and automatic lighting controls. The document discusses experiments measuring how the current through an LDR changes with light source power and distance. LDRs have various analog and digital uses that rely on their photoconductive properties.

Uploaded by

saiyamsanskar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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.
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 lamp sat a fixed distance).
(b) In the distance of a incandescent lamp, (of
fixed power), used to ‘illuminate’ the LDR.

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.
2.)Characteristics of photoconductive cells
Now when the device is kept in darkness, its resis
tance is called as dark resistance. Thisresistance 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.
Materials Required:

• Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

• Connecting Wires
• Source of different power rating (bulbs)

• Bulb Holder

• Metre scale

• Multi Meter

• Battery
Procedure:

1.Choose a specific position for the source and


mount it using a holder, make sure it is stable.

2.Select the bulb with the lowest power rating


and connect it to the holder as shown in the
figure.

3.Connect the LDR, battery(6V) and the


multimeter in series.
4.Set the multimeter to ohm section and select
suitable range and measure the resistance with a
bulb on.

5.Similarly switch to current section and move


to micro ampere in the multimeter. This gives the
value of the current.

6.Repeat these steps with different power sources


at different distances and note down
observations.

Observations

The experiment has been conducted by


using various sources with different power
ratings. Voltage of the battery= 6 V.
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.
1.)Analog Applications

· Camera Exposure Control


· Auto Slide Focus - dual cell
. Photocopy Machines - density of toner
· Colorimetric Test Equipment
· Densitometer
· Electronic Scales - dual cel
· 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.
.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.

References.
NCERT physics class XII

Art of Electronics by paul worowitz

www.wikipedia.com/

www.electronics2000.co.uk/links/education-
hobby/

www.ecelab.com

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