RELIANCE FOUNDATION SCHOOL,

MOUDA

PHYSICS
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
SESSION:2023-24

TOPIC:-“FACTORS AFFECTING
RESISTANCE OF LDR”

NAME: Sanjana Sunil Joshi

CLASS: XII
ROLL NO: 1205
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of

gratitude to my principal Mr. Hari Prasad
Vaishnav as well as my Physics teacher Mr.
Avinash Akant who gave me this golden
opportunity to undertake this project.

Secondly, I would also like to thanks my

parents and friends who supported and
encouraged to do this well.
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Sanjana Sunil Joshi

of Class XII has satisfactorily
completed the project in Physics
prescribed by C.B.S.E board in the year
2023-2024.

SUBJECT TEACHER PRINCIPAL

Mr. Avinash Akant Mr. Hari Prasad Vaishnav

EXTERNAL:
NAME OF EXTERNAL:
NAME OF INSTITUTE:
 INDEX

•ABSTRACT

•OBJECTIVE

THEORY

•MATERIAL REQUIRED

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

•PROCEDURE

OBSERVATION

•APPLICATION

•CONCLUSION

•REFERENCE
•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 lamps at 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 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.
 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
•Meter scale
•Multi Meter
•Battery
 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:-

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
OBSERVATION:

Sr. no. Mode of Electric Resistance

incident light current (I) R=V/I (ohm)
(mA)
1. With black 2.25 2.67
paper
2. Lamp of 25W 2.4 2.5
3. Lamp of 60W 6.28 0.95
4. Lamp of 100W 9.4 0.63
5. Lamp of 200W 11.24 0.53

Sr. no. Distance Current I Resistance

between source (mA) R=V/I (ohm)
and LDR
1. 22 7.3 0.82
2. 27 5.6 0.16
3. 37 5.1 0.17
4. 52 4.7 1.27
5. 72 4.3 1.39
6. 97 3.6 1.66
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 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.
 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
www.toppr.com ww
w.britannica.co
Byjus.com