AIM

TO STUDY VARIATION OF
CURRENT USING A
LDR.

i
 Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my Physics teacher Mr.

Girish for his 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.

Saransh Gaur

i
 INDEX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i

INTRODUCTION 01

APPLICATIONS 02

AIM & APPARATUS 03

THEORY 04

PROCEDURE 09

OBSERVATIONS 10

RESULT & CONCLUSION 12

SOURCES OF ERROR 13

BIBLIOGRAPHY 14

iii
 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.

1
 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.

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.

2
 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

3
 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.

0 = 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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
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.

7
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).
[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.

9
 OBSERVATIONS

The experiment has been conducted by using

various sources with different power ratings.
Voltage of the battery = 2 V

Sr. Mode of Incident Light Electric Current Resistance

No. (I) R=V/I
(A) ()
1. Black Paper 0 0
2. Lamp of 15W 0.26 7.7
3. Lamp of 25W 0.3 6.66
4. Lamp of 100W 0.45 4.44
5. Lamp of 200W 0.675 2.96

10
11
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.

12
 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.

13
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

NCERT physics class XII

Art of Electronics by paul worowitz

www.wikipedia.com/

www.electronics2000.co.uk/links/education-hobby/

www.ecelab.com/

14