KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA ASC CENTRE (S)

ACADEMIC YEAR : 2022-23

PROJECT REPORT ON:
VARIATION OF CURRENT USING LDR
NAME : SNEHA
CLASS : XII A
SUBJECT : PHYSICS

PROJECT GUIDE : Mrs Seleena Jackson PGT(physics)

Kendriya Vidyalaya ASC Centre(S)
Bengaluru
Karnataka
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank my physics teacher Mrs. Saleena
Jackson 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 my parents and everyone
who has helped me in completing the project
successfully.
This is to certify that Sneha of class
XII has successfully completed the
investigatory project on “TO STUDY
VARIATION OF CURRENT USING A
LDR” under the guidance of Mrs.
Seleena Jackson.
This project is absolutely genuine
and does not involve any kind of
plagiarism

Department of Physics
Mrs. Seleena Jackson
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i
BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE ii

Introduction 01
Applications 02
Aim and apparatus 03
Theory 04
Procedure 05
Observations 06
Result and conclusion 07
Sources of error 08
Bibliography 09
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.
Lead sulfide and indium antimonide 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.
Analog Applications
• Camera Exposure Control
• Auto Slide Focus- dual cell
• Photocopy Machines- density of toner
• Calorimetric 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
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 an 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 Metre
Battery
 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.
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 is 1.72eV. 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 10^13 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 infrared region 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 infrared 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.

2) Luminous flux variation

Conducting 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).
[dEr>dER]
It varies inversely as the square of the distance.
• 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.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
The experiment has been conducted by using various sources
with different power ratings.

Voltage of the battery= 6V

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

Serial no. Distance from RESISTANCE CURRENT

source(cm) (kilo ohm) (micro ampere)

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

Serial no. DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT

SOURCE(cm) (kilo ohm) (micro ampere)

3.) 40 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength =610nm)

• 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.

• 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.

• NCERT physics class XII
• Comprehensive Physics