PHYSICS PROJECT FILE 2024-

2025
LDR: LIGHT
DEPENDENT
RESISTANCE
NAME:
CLASS: 12K

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 DELHI PRIVATE SCHOOL L.L.C.

CERTIFICATE

Certified that the work in this project is the bonafide work

of Master of Class 12 Div. K Roll No. 10

Recorded in the school laboratory during the academic

year of 2024-2025

Date: _______________

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 …………………
………………….
Teacher in charge External
Examiner

OBJECTIVE:
To study the variations, in current flowing, in a circuit containing a
LDR, because of a variation:

 in the power of the incandescent lamp, used to

'illuminate' the LDR. (Keeping all the lamps at a
fixed distance).

 in the distance from the incandescent lamp, (of

fixed power), used to 'illuminate' the LDR.

 In the intensity of light used (no light, sunlight,

no light)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Embarking on this project has been a golden
opportunity for learning and personal growth. I
feel incredibly fortunate to have been guided by
such exceptional mentors throughout this
journey.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to

Ms. Vandana, our esteemed director and
principal, for her unwavering support and
encouragement. Her leadership has been a
constant source of inspiration.
My heartfelt thanks go to my teacher and guide,
Ms. Raseetha, whose patience and faith in our
abilities have been truly motivating. Her
dedication to the entire process, along with her
insightful feedback and constant encouragement,
have been invaluable in helping me achieve my
goals.

Finally, I am deeply appreciative of the support

from my family and friends, whose
encouragement enabled me to complete this

project within the deadline.

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1) CERTIFICATE

2) OBJECTIVE

3) ACKNOWLEDGE
MENT

4) INTRODUCTION

5) THEORY

6) APPARATUS &
PROCEDURE

7) OBSERVATIONS

8) CONCLUSIONS

9) PRECAUTIONS

10) BIBLIOGRAPHY

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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INTRODUCTION:

A photoresistor, also known as a light-dependent

resistor (LDR), is a light-controlled variable
resistor. The resistance of a photoresistor
decreases as the intensity of
incident light increases,
demonstrating
photoconductivity. Photoresistors
are commonly used in light-
sensitive detector circuits and
light-activated or dark-activated switching
circuits. These resistors are made from pure
semiconductors like silicon or germanium. When
light strikes the LDR, the incident photons excite
the electrons, causing them to move from the
valence band to the conduction band. This
movement increases the number of charge
carriers, thereby raising the conductivity of the
material.

It is important to distinguish between photocells

and LDRs. In a photocell, exposure to light
(photons) generates electricity directly. In
contrast, LDRs do not generate electricity but
instead change their conductivity in response to
light.
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THEORY
A light-dependent resistor (LDR) operates on the
principle of photoconductivity, an electro-optical
phenomenon where the material's conductivity
increases when it absorbs light. Modern LDRs are
typically made from materials such as lead
sulphide, lead selenide, indium antimonide, and
most commonly, cadmium sulphide (CdS) and
cadmium selenide. These materials exhibit
changes in electrical resistance based on the
amount of light they absorb, making LDRs useful
in various light-sensitive applications.
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF LDR:
It works on the principle of photoconductivity
whenever the light falls on its photoconductive
material, it absorbs its energy and
the electrons of that
photoconductive material in the
valence band get excited and go
to the conduction band and thus
increasing the conductivity as per STRUCTURE OF LDR
the increase in light intensity. Also,
the energy in incident light should be greater
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than the bandgap gap energy so that the
electrons from the valence band got excited and
go to the conduction band.
The LDR has the highest resistance in dark
around 1012 Ohm and this resistance decreases
with the increase in Light.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 LIGHT SOURCE
 LDR
 SWITCHING CIRCUIT
 RELAY
 BUZZER
 BATTERIES
 HOUSING FOR THE ABOVE

PROCEDURE:
An empty cardboard box was used to simulate a
house, with an opening cut out to represent a
door. A light source was placed inside the box,
positioned directly behind the door opening. An
LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) was placed in line
with the light source, within its direct path. A
circuit was connected to the LDR, designed to
activate a relay when the light beam is
interrupted. This setup effectively demonstrates
how the circuit responds when someone or
something blocks the light at the door. A
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schematic diagram of the setup is provided
below:

As illustrated in the diagram, a light source is

positioned behind the door on the right-hand
side, with an LDR placed directly opposite it,
aligned in the same line of sight. When the light
beam falls on the LDR, its resistance decreases,
activating a transistor switching circuit. This
circuit is connected to a relay, which in turn
controls an external LED.
A relay is a special type of switch that operates
through its magnetic coil and has two positions:
in the de-energized state, position-1 is active,
while in the energized state, position-2 is active.
When the circuit is powered on, the relay defaults
to position-1, causing the LED to light up.
However, when the light source is switched on,
the LDR’s resistance drops, triggering the
transistor circuit, which energizes the relay and
shifts it to position-2, turning off the LED.

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In this configuration, whenever the light beam is
interrupted by an opaque object, the LDR’s
resistance increases due to the lack of incident
light. This de-energizes the relay, returning it to
position-1, which causes the LED to light up.
In summary, as long as the light source remains
on and the LDR is illuminated, the LED will stay
off. However, if the light beam is interrupted, the
LED will light up. This setup can be imagined as a
security mechanism where the interruption of the
light beam, possibly by an intruder, triggers the
LED, thereby detecting any unauthorized entry
automatically.

OBSERVATION:
1)Variation of resistance of LDR with the availability of light

2.3 k ohms

1.2 K ohms

0.5 K ohms

GRAPH

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INFERENCE
Resistance of the LDR decreases with increase in the
intensity of light and hence there is an increase in the
current flow

2) Variation of resistance of the LDR with

power of the source keeping the distance
between the bulb and source constant

4 K OHMS

3.6 K OHMS

3.2 K OHMS

GRAPH:(BASED ON APPROXIMATE VALUES)

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INFERENCE:
The resistance of LDR decreases with increase in the
power of the lamp keeping the distance between the
bulb and the source constant.

3)Variation of resistance of the LDR with

distance of the source keeping the
power of the bulb constant

20CM 1.05
KOHMS

40CM
2.6OHMS

60CM 3.8K
OHMS

GRAPH:

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 As the distance increases
the intensity of light
DISTANCE decreases

INFERENCE:
The resistance of LDR decreases with increase in
distance of the lamp keeping the power of the source
constant.

CONCLUSION:
1. Variation in the Power of the
Incandescent Lamp:
As the power of the incandescent lamp increases,
the intensity of light falling on the LDR increases.
Consequently, the resistance of the LDR
decreases, leading to an increase in the current
flowing through the circuit. The relationship is
typically non-linear; as the lamp power increases,
the rate of decrease in LDR resistance may
diminish, and the current will increase
correspondingly.

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 2. Variation in the Distance from the
Incandescent Lamp:
As the distance between the LDR and the lamp
increases, the intensity of light reaching the LDR
decreases due to the inverse square law (light
intensity diminishes with the square of the
distance). This reduction in light intensity results in
an increase in the LDR's resistance, which in turn
causes a decrease in the current flowing through
the circuit. The decrease in current is generally
more pronounced as the distance increases.
3.Variation of intensity of light:
 No Light: In the absence of light, the LDR's resistance is
very high, leading to very low current flow in the circuit.
 Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight significantly reduces the
LDR's resistance, resulting in a much higher current
compared to no light.
 Artificial Light (e.g., from a lamp): The current is
between the extremes of no light and sunlight, depending
on the lamp's power and the distance from the LDR. The
current will increase as the intensity of the artificial light
increases.

PRECAUTIONS:
When working with devices that can be harmful,
such as laser diodes and ultraviolet (UV) LEDs, it
is essential to follow proper safety measures to
protect yourself and others. Here are some
important guidelines:

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 1.Laser Diode:
o Hazard: Even low-intensity lasers can be harmful if
accidentally aimed at the eyes or if the reflected beam is
viewed directly.

o Precautions:
 Protective Eyewear: Always wear appropriate
laser safety glasses when working with or
positioning the laser diode to prevent accidental
exposure to the eyes.
 Avoid Direct Exposure: Do not look directly at
the laser beam or its reflections. Ensure that the
laser is always directed away from people and
animals.
 Secure Positioning: Properly secure the laser
diode to prevent accidental movement that
could direct the beam towards unintended
areas.

2.Ultraviolet (UV) LED:

o Hazard: UV LEDs emit UV light with wavelengths
between 315 and 400 nm, which, while less energetic, can still
cause harm with prolonged exposure, leading to skin and eye
damage.

o Precautions:
 Limit Exposure: Minimize direct skin and eye exposure
to UV light by avoiding prolonged interaction with the
UV LED.

 Protective Gear: Use UV-protective goggles and cover

exposed skin when working with UV LEDs to reduce the
risk of UV-related injuries.

 Controlled Environment: Ensure that the UV LED is

used in a controlled environment where accidental

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 exposure is minimized, and consider using shielding to
block UV light from escaping the work area.

3) Buzzer:
 Hazard: Buzzers emit high-frequency audio sounds that can
cause hearing damage if heard at close range or for extended
periods.

 Precautions:
o Hearing Protection: Avoid placing the buzzer near your
ears. Use ear protection or hearing protection devices (like
earplugs or earmuffs) if you must be in close proximity to the
buzzer.

o Volume Control: Operate the buzzer at the lowest volume

necessary for its intended purpose.

o Exposure Time: Limit the duration of exposure to the

buzzer's sound to prevent hearing damage. If possible,
minimize the time spent near the device when it is active.

4) Light Dependent Resistor (LDR):

 Hazard: LDRs contain harmful chemicals that can be
environmentally damaging if not disposed of properly.

 Precautions:
o Proper Disposal: When decommissioning or disposing of the
LDR, follow local regulations for electronic waste disposal to
ensure safe handling and recycling.

o Avoid Contamination: Do not dispose of the LDR in regular

trash. Use designated electronic waste disposal services or
facilities to minimize environmental impact.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.google.com
www.electronicsforu.com
https://
www.wikipedia.org/
https://mrsphysics.co.uk/n5/wp-content/uploads/
2017/12/N5-Assignments-Experiment-Guide-
Sheets-LDR.pdf

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