K.C.

PUBLIC SCHOOL
TATA BENZ SQUARE,BRAHMAPUR

A PROJECT REPORT ON
STUDY THE VARIATIONS IN CURRENT
FLOWING IN A CIRCUIT CONTAINING AN
LDR
GUIDED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
DR.MANOJ KUMAR MUNI Name – NAVNEET SAHU
SHRI PITABAS PANDA Class – XII, C
Roll No.:
DR MANOJ KUMAR MUNI

AND

SHRI.PITABAS PANDA

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

K.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL

This is to certify that the project entitled To Study the

variations in current flowing in a circuit containing an LDR
which is submitted by NAVNEET SAHU in partial full-
fillment of physics practical for class-XII
AISSCE conducted by CBSE 2024-25. This work is carried
out by him is under our guidance.

(Internal Examiner) (External Examiner)

Principal
I do hereby declare that the work presented in
this project entitled To Study the variations
current flowing in a circuit containing an LDR has
been carried out by me independently in the
school and submitted for partial ful-fillment of
physics practical for class-XIIth AISSCE
conducted by CBSE 2024-25.

(Signature of the student)

I acknowledge my sincere gratitude to Dr. MANOJ
KUMAR MUNI and SHRI.PITABAS PANDA, (Teacher of
Department of Physics) for their guidance, useful
suggestions and excellent support.
I am especially indebted to our Principal SHRI. A.K.
MISHRA who has always been a source of
encouragement and support and without whose
inspiration the project would not have been a
successful. I would like to thank him for this.
Finally , I would like to express my heartfelt thanks
to all friends of my batch, helping me in completing
the project.

(Signature of the student)

1. Certificate
2. Acknowledgement
3. Declaration
4. Aim
5. Apparatus
6. Introduction
7. Theory
8. Procedure
9. Observation
10. Application
11. Conclusion
12. Source of error
13. Bibliography
To study the variation in current flowing in a circuit
containing LDR because of a variation in:

a) The power of incandescent lamp, used to illuminate

the LDR (keeping all the lamps at a fixed distance).
b) The distance of incandescent lamp (of fixed power)
used to illuminate the LDR.
1) LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
2) Connecting wires
3) Bulb holder
4) Bulbs of different power rating
5) Meter scale
6) Multimeter
7) Battery
A photoresistor or light dependent resistor is a
component that is sensitive to light. When light falls upon
it then the resistance changes changes. Values of
resistance of the LDR may change over many orders of
magnitude the value of resistance falling as the level of
light increases.

With such a wide variations in resistance, LDRs are easy

to use and there are many LDR circuits available. The
sensitivity of light dependent resistors or photoresistor
also varies with the wavelength of the incident light.

LDRs are made from semiconductor materials to enable

them to have their light sensitive properties. Many
materials can be used, but one popular material for these
photoresistor is cadmium sulphide.
Types of photo resistor :

Intrinsic photoresistor :
Intrinsic photoresistor use un-doped semiconductor
materials including silicon or germanium. Photons fall on
the LDR excite electrons moving them from the valence
band to the conduction band. As a result these electrons
are free to conduct electricity. The more light that falls on
the device, the more electrons are liberated and the
greater the level of conductivity, and this results in a lower
level of resistance.

Extrinsic photoresistor:
Extrinsic manufactured from photoresistor
semiconductor are of material doped with impurities.
These impurities or dopants create a new energy band
above the existing valence band. As a result, electrons
need less energy to transfer to the conduction band
because of smaller energy gap.
LDR Symbol:

The LDR symbol user in circuits is based around the

resistor circuit symbol, but shows the light, in the form of
arrows shining on it

Circuit symbols used for light dependent

resistor/photoresistor
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.
λο = h.c /e Ew
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 any change in the resistance of this
device.
The gap energy of Cadmium Sulphide is 2.42eV and for
Cadmium Selenide it is 1.74eV. Due to such large energy
gaps, both the materials have extremely high resistivity at
room temperature. Such large energy gaps, both the
materials have extremely high resistivity at room
temperature.
Characteristics of photoconductive cells:

Now when the device kept in darkness, its resistance is

called a dark resistance. This resistance is typically of the
order of 1013ohms. When light falls on it, its resistance
decreases up to level 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 with a range of 520nm. Thus it can be used
nearer to the infrared 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 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.
1) Draw a diagram showing the scheme of the
connections as shown in fig
2) Make the connections as given in the diagram.
Arrange the incandescent lamp and LDR so that they
are in same straight line, and make sure that both
are stable.
3) To find the resistance, set the multimeter to ohm
section and select suitable range and measure
the resistance of LDR with a bulb on.
4) In multimeter select the switch to microampere
to get current.
5) Switch on the bulb and take different readings
with different power sources played at same
distance.
6) Now repeat these steps again with different
power sources at different distances and repeat
the observations.
 1) 15 watts(yellow)(wavelength=570nm)
Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No. SOURCE (kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)
1. 50 142.5 40
2. 40 69 80
3. 30 41 150
4. 20 21 300

2) 15 watts(incandescent)(mean wavelength=610nm)
Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No. SOURCE (kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)
1. 50 51 120
2. 40 35 170
3. 30 22 270
4. 20 11 540
 3) 40 watts(incandescent)(mean wavelength=610nm)
Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No. SOURCE (kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)
1. 50 20 300
2. 40 13 460
3. 30 8.5 700
4. 20 4.5 1330

4)(CFL)(white light)
Serial DISTANCE FROM RESISTANCE CURRENT
No. SOURCE (kilo ohm) (micro ampere)
(cm)
1. 50 15.5 380
2. 40 10 600
3. 30 6 1000
4. 20 3 2000
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.
A.)Analog Applications
1. Camera Exposure Control
2. Auto Slide Focus - dual cell
3. Photocopy Machines density of toner
4. Colorimetric Test Equipment
5. Densitometer
6. Electronic Scales - dual cell
7. Automatic Gain Control-modulated light
source
8. Automated Rear View Mirror
B.) Digital Applications

1. Automatic Headlight Dimmer

2. Night Light Control
3. Oil Burner Flame Out
4. Street Light Control
5. Position Sensor
• 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 current as the distance from

the source decreases.

• The intensity decreases as the distance from the

source increases.
• The LDR may not be perpendicular to the source.

• Connections may be faulty.

• Experiment should be conducted in a dark room.

• Meas urements should be taken accurately.

• NCERT Class-12 Physics
• www.technologystudent.com/elec1/ldr1
• Physics Lab Manual Class-12
• https://en.wikipedia.org
• https://www.google.co.in
• Physics for you blogs