VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA,KARAMBAKKAM

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT (2023-2024)

THE EFFECT OF INTENSITY OF LIGHT BY

VARYING DISTANCE OF THE SOURCE ON A LDR

NAME: J.K. PRATHICKSHA

CLASS: XII
ROLL NUMBER:

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 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that J.K.PRATHICKSHA studying in class XII at
Velammal Vidyalaya Karambakkam has successfully completed
the research on the below mentioned project THE EFFECT OF
INTENSITY OF LIGHT BY VARYING DISTANCE OF THE SOURCE
ON A LDR under the guidance of Ms.R.JEYALAKSHMI ,Physics
Teacher in the year 2023-2024.

Signature of Physics Teacher Signature of Principal

Signature of Internal Examiner Signature of External Examiner

Date:

Place: School Seal

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many

people have bestowed their blessings and heart pledged support
upon me, I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all,
who have been instrumental in the success completion of this
project.
Primarily, I express my deep sense of gratitude to the
luminary, The Correspondent, Shri. M.V.M.VELMOHAN, The
Principal, Ms.ANNE PREETHA MARY, And Head Master
Mr.K.PANNEER SELVAM for providing the best of facilities and
environment to bring out innovation and spirit of inquiry
throughthis venture.
I am deeply indebted to my teacher Ms. JEYALAKSHMI,
without whose constructive feedback, this project would not
have been successful. The valuable advice and suggestions for
correction, modifications and improvement did enhance the
quality of the task.
I would also like to thank my parents, friends and all the
members whocontributed to this project was vital for the success
of the project
I am grateful for their constant support and help

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 INDEX
S.NO CONTENTS PAGE NUMBER

1. INTRODUCTION 5-6

2. AIM 7

3. APPARATUS 7
REQUIRED

4. PRINCIPLE 7

5. PROCEDURE 8

6. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM 9

7. OBSERVATIONS 10-11

8. PRECAUTIONS 12

9. SOURCE OF ERROR 12

10. RESULT 13

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY 14

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 INTRODUCTION OF PHOTOCONDUCTIVE CELL
• A photoconductive cell (PC) is a light-sensitive semiconducting
device whose electrical conductivity varies with the amount of
light falling on it.

• If voltage is applied across the cell it is found to vary with the

light intensity.

• With no illumination, the conductivity decreases and increases

with illumination.

• Note: The photoconductive cell is also referred to as a photo

resistor or light-dependent resistor.

Cel

TYPES OF LDR
The classification of LDR can be done based on linearity or photosensitive
materials. The most frequently used materials while designing LDR mainly
include cadmium sulfide, thallium sulphide, cadmium selenide & lead sulphide

• The LDRs generated with this cadmium sulfide chemical are very
responsive to all kinds of light radiation that are noticeable within the
spectrum of human beings.

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 • The LDRs made with lead sulphate chemicals are particularly responsive
to IR radiation.
The most frequent classification of LDR is linear as well as nonlinear

• Liner type LDRs are called as photodiodes however in some applications

areas it is used as photo resistors because of the linear performance
they present & their operation.
Non-linear LDRs are commonly used but their be

LDR ADVANTAGES
The advantages of LDR include the following.

• Sensitivity is High
• Simple & Small devices
• Easily used
• Inexpensive
• There is no union potential.
• The light-dark resistance ratio is high.
• Its connection is simple

LDR DISADVANTAGES
The disadvantages of LDR include the following.

• Spectral response is narrow

• Hysteresis effect
• Temperature stability is low for the best materials
• In stable materials, it responses very slowly
• The use of LDR is limited where the light signal changes very quickly
• It is not so much a responsive device.
• It provides incorrect result once working temperature alters

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AIM
To study the effect of intensity of light (by varying distance of the source)
on a LDR (Light Dependent Resistor).

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

LDR, two power supplies (12 V each), key, milliammeter (0-500mA),
voltmeter (0-10V), a resistance of 47 Ω, a 12 V lamp, breadboard ,
connecting wires.

PRINCIPLE
Light dependent resistor or a photo resistor is a device that is sensitive to
light. Its resistance varies according to the intensity of light incident on it. It
is made from a semiconductor material with light resistors to have light
sensitive properties, one such materials is, cadmium sulphide. Snake–like
tracks are made of cadmium sulphide on thin metal films .LDR has a high
resistance due to the fact that majority of electrons are locked into the
crystal lattice and not free to move. As light falls on the lattice, some of the
electrons get sufficient energy to break free the crystal lattice to conduct
electricity. A typical LDR has a resistance of 1 MΩ in total darkness and a
few hundred ohm resistance in bright light.

Light Intensity V/S Resistance

As per the property of LDRs, the amount of light entering the LDR the
inversely proportional to the resistance of the sensor, and the graph is
hyperbolic in nature.

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GRAPH

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PROCEDURE
1.Assemble the circuit.

2. First keep the lamp switched off. Plug in the key K.

3. Observe and record voltmeter and milliammeter readings.

4. Calculate the reference measurement of LDR resistance R′.

5. Add this value of resistance to all further measurements. This ensures

that background illumination has been taken into account.

6. Set up a 12 V lamp on a fixed stand-in vertical position facing LDR. Adjust

LDR normally below the lamp at about 10 cm .

7. Observe milliammeter and voltmeter readings.

8. Changing the distance between lamp and LDR by 15 cm repeat step.

9.Record your observation and calculation resistance of LDR at different

distances of the lamp.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

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OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
Range of voltmeter = 0 V to 10V

Least count of voltmeter = ...V

Range of milliammeter = 0 mA to 500mA

Least count of milliammeter = ...mA

Table A : Variation in resistance of LDR with distance

S.NO Distance of source Resistance of LDR

from LDR(cm)
(Ohm)
1. 7.5 0.56
2. 12.5 1.23
3. 17.5 2.58
4. 22.5 5.67

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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 colour 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.

When the light drops on LDR, the resistance will be decreased and when
the resistor is placed in the dark then the resistance will be increased
which is called dark resistance. If any device absorbs light then its
resistance will be reduced radically. If a stable voltage is given to it, the
light intensity will be increased & the flow of current starts increasing. So,
the following diagram represents the characteristics between resistance &
illumination for a specific LDR.

LDRs are not linear devices and their sensitivity changes through the light’s
wavelength which drops on them. Some kinds of photocells are not at all
sensitive to a specific range of wavelengths because it depends on the used
material.

Once light rays fall on a photocell, the resistance will be changed in 8 ms to

12, while it uses few more seconds to rise the resistance back again to its
early value once the light is removed. So this is known as a recovery rate of
resistance. In audio compressors, this property is applicable.

In addition, these resistors are low responsive to phototransistors &

photodiodes. A photo-diode is a PN-junction semiconductor device, used to
change the light to electricity, while a photocell is a passive device and it

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doesn’t include a PN junction but is used to convert light to electricity but it
is not.

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.

PRECAUTIONS
1. LDR is placed normally to the light source so that angle of -

Incidence of light rays remain constant and normal throughout the

experiment.

2.All the connections should be made tight.

SOURCES OF ERROR
Background illumination is a source of error in this activity.

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RESULT
• As distance increases, intensity of incident light decreases and
resistance of LDR increases heavier does not depend on the polarity
through which it unites.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Help from internet
1.wikipedia

2.Google

• Help from teachers

• www.Scribd.com
• www.elprocus.com

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