PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT

TOPIC : TO STUDY THE VARIATION IN

CURRENT FLOWING IN A
CIRCUIT
CONTAINING LDR.

NAME : DEVAM B. BHATT

CLASS : 12th
SCHOOL : PUNA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude

to my teacher _______________________ as well
as our principal ______________________ who
gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful
project on the topic “To study the variation in current
flowing in a circuit containing LDR”, which also
helped me in doing a lot of Research and i came to
know about so many new things I am really thankful
to them.

Secondly i would also like to thank my parents and

friends who helped me a lot in finalizing this project
within the limited time frame.

DEVAM B. BHATT
 INDEX

 INTRODUCTION

 APPLICATION

 OBJECTIVE

 APPARATUS

 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

 THEORY

 PROCEDURE

 CONCLUSION
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.
APPLICATION

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
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.

APPARATUS

• Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)

• Connecting Wires
• Source of different power rating (bulbs)
• Bulb Holder
• Metre scale
• Multi Meter
• Battery
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

THEORY

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.

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.

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.

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
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.