Physics Investigatory Project Report

TO STUDY THE VARIATIONS IN CURRENT FLOWING IN A CIRCUIT

CONTAINING AN LDR BECAUSE OF A VARIATION IN

(A) THE POWER OF THE INCANDESCENT LAMP, USED TO

‘ILLUMINATE’ THE LDR (KEEPING ALL THE LAMPS AT A FIXED
DISTANCE).

(B) THE DISTANCE OF AN INCANDESCENT LAMP (OF FIXED

POWER) USED TO ‘ILLUMINATE’ THE LDR.

NAME STEPHEN D
ADMN. 3658
NO. 2024-2025
CLASS XII
SECTION C
D.O.B 23.07.2007
 TABLE OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT 3
INTRODUCTION 4
AIM 5
APPARATUS REQUIRED 5
THEORY 5

FORMULA 6
PROCEDURE 7
OBSERVATION 7
OBSERVATION TABLE 7
RESULT 8
SOURCES OF ERROR 9
BIBLIOGRAPHY 9
 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 [Link] 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.
 INTRODUCTION

 An LDR is a type of semiconductor device whose electrical resistance

changes in response to varying light intensity. When exposed to light, the
conductivity of an LDR increases, and when in darkness, its resistance is
higher.
 These devices are commonly used in applications where light detection or
measurement is essential.
 LDRs are typically made from two common materials:
1. Cadmium Sulphide (CdS): CdS-based LDRs are widely used due to
their sensitivity to visible light. They exhibit a significant change in
resistance when exposed to light.
2. Cadmium Selenide (CdSe): CdSe-based LDRs are less common but
offer better sensitivity to infrared light. They find applications in
specialized light detection systems.
 Intrinsic LDRs:
These are pure semiconductor materials (e.g., CdS or CdSe) without any
added impurities. Their energy levels are determined solely by the crystal
lattice structure.
 Extrinsic LDRs:
Impurities (dopants) are intentionally added to intrinsic materials to modify
their energy levels. This process is called doping. Extrinsic LDRs have
energy levels closer to the conduction band, making them more sensitive to
lower-energy photons (longer wavelengths).
 Smoke and Fire Detection Systems:
LDRs are used in smoke detectors. When smoke particles scatter light, the
LDR’s resistance changes, triggering an alarm.
 Camera Light Meters:
LDRs were historically used in analog cameras to measure ambient light.
The camera’s exposure settings (shutter speed and aperture) were adjusted
based on the LDR’s resistance.
 Outdoor Lighting Control:
LDRs can adjust outdoor lighting (e.g., streetlights) based on ambient light
levels.
 Solar-Powered Devices:
LDRs are part of solar-powered circuits that activate devices (e.g., garden
lights) when it gets dark.
 An LDR typically consists of a semiconductor material (CdS or CdSe)
sandwiched between two [Link] structure is covered with a glass
sheet to protect it from moisture and dust while allowing light to fall on
[Link] light strikes the LDR, more charge carriers (electrons and holes) are
generated, leading to increased conductivity.
AIM:
To find the wavelength of the constitueTo study the variations in current
flowing in a circuit containing an LDR because of a variation in (a) The power
of the incandescent lamp, used to ‘illuminate’ the LDR (keeping all the lamps at
a fixed distance). (b) The distance of an incandescent lamp (of fixed power)
used to ‘illuminate’ the [Link] colours of a composite light using diffraction
grating and spectrometer.
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
 Connecting Wires
 Source of different power rating (bulbs)
 Bulb Holder
 Metre scale
 Multi Meter
 Battery

THEORY:

1. Characteristics of photoconductive cells:

Now when the device is kept in darkness, its resistance is called as dark re
sistance.
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.
 2. 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.

3. 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

FORMULA:

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.

λο=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 change in the resistance of this
device.
PROCEDURE:

1. Choose a specific position for the source and mount it using a holder, make
sure it is stable.
2. Select the bulb with the lowest power rating and connect it to the holder as
shown in the figure.
3. Connect the LDR, battery(6V) and the multimeter in series
4. Set the multimeter to ohm section and select suitable range and measure the
resistance with a bulb on.
5. Similarly switch to current section and move to micro ampere in the
multimeter. This gives the value of the current.
6. Repeat these steps with different power sources at different distances and
note down.

OBSERVATIONS:
The experiment has been conducted by using various sources with different
power ratio
RESULT:
1. The LDR resistance decreases with increase in intensity of light and
hence there is an increase in the flow of current.
2. There is an increase in the current as the distance from the source
decreases.
3. The intensity decreases as the distance from the source increases
4. The error lies within the experimental limit.
SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The LDR may not be perpendicular to the source.
2. Connections may be faulty.
3. The experiment should be conducted in a dark room.
4. Measurements should be taken accurately

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. [Link]
2. [Link]
investigatoryprojectonldr-1/194412284
3. Investigatory Project On LDR - [PDF Document] ([Link])
4. [Link]
5. CBSE Physics Practical Class 12 Lab Manual for 2023-24 Board
Exam ([Link])
6. To study the variation in current flowing in a circuit containing an
LDR beacuse of varation in a) the power of the incardescent lamp
used to illuminate the LDR (keeping all lamp at a fixed distance)
b)the distance of a incardescent lamp of fixed power used to
illuminte the LDR - lt208mzz ([Link])