Wa0018

Acknowledgement
I would like to take this opportunity to express

my profound sense of gratitude and respect to
all those who helped me throughout the duration
of this project. I acknowledge the effort of those
who have contributed significantly to my project.
I express my sincere gratitude and thankfulness
towards Prof. M. B. Puranik, President of
Sharada Group of Institutions for providing an
opportunity and guidance for the fulfilment of
this project.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to

the Principal, Mrs. Sushma Dinkar and Vice
Principal, Mr. Vinayak B G, Sharada
Vidyanikethana Public School, Devinagara,
Talapady-022 for their guidance and valuable
support.
I am thankful to Mr.Mahesh Prasad and Mrs

Shruthi, Lecturer, Department of Physics for
their constant guidance and timely help at every
stage of this project and for their guidance,
valuable suggestions, and unlimited support.
Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends,

well-wishers, and non-teaching staff of
Department of Physics who in one way or the
other were always besides me during the hours
of need. I thank them for their constant support
and encouragement.
Above all, thanking the Almighty.

Index
1.ABSTRACT
2.OBJECTIVE
3.THEORY
4.MATERIAL REQUIRED
5.PROCEDURE
6.OBSERVATION
7.APPLICATION
8.CONCLUSION
9.BIBLIOGRAPHY
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 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.
Objective
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.
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 photoconductive transducer has the resistance which is the
inverse function of radiation intensity.
λ0 = 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
2.) 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.
3.) 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
4) 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.
Materials Required:-
1.Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Connecting Wires
2.Source of Different Power
Rating (Lamps or Bulbs)
3.Lamp or Bulb
4.Holder
5.Voltmeter
lOMoARcPSD|48397674
6.Ammeter
7.Battery
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.
Connect the LDR, battery (6V) and the multimeter
in series.
3.Set the multimeter to ohm section and select

suitable range and measure the resistance with
a bulb on.
4.Similarly switch to current section and move to

micro ampere in the multimeter. This gives the
value of current.
5.Repeat these Steps with different power sources

at different distances and note down.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:-
Observations:-
The experiment has been conducted by using various
sources with different power ratings. Voltage of the
battery= 6 V
1) 15 watts (yellow) ( wavelength 570nm)
S.n Distance From Resistance Current

o Source (cm) (kilo ohm) (micro amphere)
1 50 142.5 40
2 40 69 80
3 30 41 150
4 20 21 300
2) 15 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength
610nm)

1 50 51 120
2 40 35 170
3 30 22 270
4 20 11 540
3) 40 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength

610nm)

(micro amphere)
o Source (cm) (kilo ohm)
1 50 20 300
2 40 13 460
3 30 8.5 700
4 20 4.5 1330
4) 20 watts (CFL) (white light)

1 50 15.5 380
2 40 10 600
3 30 6 1000
4 20 3 2000
Application:-
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.
1.) Analog Applications :-

1.Camera Exposure Control
2.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
2.) Digital Applications:-

1.Automatic Headlight
2.Dimmer Night Light
3..Control Oil Burner Flame
4.Street Light Control
5.Position Sensor
Conclusion:-
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 decreases.
lO
4.The error lies within the experimental limit.
Bibliography
1. Search engines used:
➢ www.google.com
➢ www.wikipedia.com
➢ www.reader.google.
➢ www.labs.google.com
➢ www.quora.com
2. The Family Encyclopedia by Dorling

Kindersley.
3. Studiocu.com

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Acknowledgement

I would like to take this opportunity to express

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to

I am thankful to Mr.Mahesh Prasad and Mrs

Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends,

Above all, thanking the Almighty.

The general purpose photoconductive cell is also known

To study the variations, in current flowing

(b) In the distance of a incandescent lamp,

λ0 = threshold wavelength, in meters

2.) Characteristics of photoconductive cells:-

Now when the device is kept in darkness, its resistance is

2.Select the bulb with the lowest power rating and

3.Set the multimeter to ohm section and select

4.Similarly switch to current section and move to

5.Repeat these Steps with different power sources

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

3) 40 watts (incandescent) (mean wavelength

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

4) 20 watts (CFL) (white light)

S.n Distance From Resistance Current

1.) Analog Applications :-

2.Slide Focus - dual cell

3.Photocopy Machines - density of toner

6.Electronic Scales - dual cell

7. Automatic Gain Control – modulated light source

2.) Digital Applications:-

4.The error lies within the experimental limit.

1. Search engines used:

2. The Family Encyclopedia by Dorling

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