Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my Physics teacher Mrs. Neeta

Sikri for her constant guidance, motivation, moral
encouragement and sympathetic attitude towards the
success of this project.
I also want to thank the principal and the institution for
providing the necessary materials.
I would also like to extend my gratitude towards the lab
attendant, my parents and everyone who has helped
me in completing the project successfully.

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 Certificate

This is to certify that Manthan Singh of class XII-B has

successfully completed the investigatory project on
“TO STUDY VARIATION OF CURRENT USING A
LDR" under the guidance of Mrs. Neeta Sikri.
This project is absolutely genuine and doesn't not
involve in any kind of plagiarism.
This is in partial fulfillment of Physics practical
examination AISSCE 2013.

Teachers’ signature Principal’s Signature

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 INDEX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i
BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE ii

INTRODUCTION 01 1

OBSERVATIONS 10

RESULT & CONCLUSION 12

SOURCES OF ERROR 13

BIBLIOGRAPHY 14

APPLICATIONS 02
AIM & APPARATUS 03
THEORY 04
PROCEDURE 09

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 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.

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Applications
Lead sulfide (PbS) and indium antimonide (InSb) LDRs
are used for the mid infrared spectral
region. GeCu photoconductors are among the best
farinfrared 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
*LDR has a disadvantage that when its temperature changes, its resistance
changes drastically for a particular light intensity.

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 AIM & APPARATUS
AIM:
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.

APPARATUS:
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Connecting Wires
Source of different power rating (bulbs)
Bulb Holder
Metre scale
Multi Meter
Battery

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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 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.

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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.
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.

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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.

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2.) luminous 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 a
distance ‘r’ from the source. It comprises a small part
of the energy radiated (dEr).
Now, go further to a distance ‘R’ (R>r) from the source,
consider the same area element dA, it comprises a
much smaller part of energy radiated
(dER).

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[dEr > dER].
It varies inversely as the square of the distance.

8
 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.

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

1.) 15 watts (yellow) (wavelength = 570nm)

Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)

1. 50 142.5 40
2. 40 69 80
3. 30 41 150
4. 20 21 300

2.) 15 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength = 610nm

Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)

1. 50 51 120
2. 40 35 170
3. 30 22 270
4. 20 11 540

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 3.) 40 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength = 610nm)
Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)

1. 50 20 300
2. 40 13 460
3. 30 8.5 700
4. 20 4.5 1330

4.) 20 watts (CFL) (white light)

Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No SOURCE (Kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)

1. 50 15.5 380
2. 40 10 600
3. 30 6 1000
4. 20 3 2000

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 CONCLUSION & RESULT

• 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.

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 SOURCES OF ERROR

• The LDR may not be perpendicular to the source.

• Connections may be faulty.

• The experiment should be conducted in a dark room.

• Measurements should be taken accurately.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• 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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