Submitted to Mrs.

Chitra Chatterjee
By Abishai Barshikar
Class 12th-C
Roll No:-1
 I would like to express a deep sense of thanks
and gratitude to my project guide Mrs. Chitra
Chatterjee for guiding me immensely through
the course of the project. She always evinced
keen interest in my work. Her constructive
advice and constant motivation have been
responsible for the completion of this project.

i
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, NAGPUR

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Abishai Barshikar, a student of Class XII has

successfully completed the research on the project, ‘To study the
variation in current flowing in a circuit, containing a LDR,
because of a variation’ under the guidance of Mrs. Chitra
Chatterjee during the year 2017-2018 in partial fulfilment of
physics practical examination conducted by AISSCE, Nagpur.

Name Of Examiner Name Of Physics Teacher

Signature Of Examiner Signature Of Physics Teacher

ii
 Pg. No.
Acknowledgement i
Certificate ii

1. Aim of the project 1

2. Introduction 2
3. Apparatus 3
4. Theory 4
5. Circuit diagram 9
6. Procedure 10
7. Observations 11
8. Conclusion 14
9. Precautions 15
10. Bibliography 17

4
 To study the variations in current, flowing in a
circuit containing a LDR, because of a variation-
i. In the power of an incandescent lamp, used to
‘illuminate’ the LDR (keeping all the lamps at a fixed
distance).
ii. In the distance of an incandescent lamp, (of fixed
power), used to ‘illuminate’ the LDR.

1
 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. The structure is covered with glass
sheet to protect it from moisture and dust
and allows only light to fall on it.

2
 Light Dependent Resistor(LDR)
 Connecting Wires
 Source of different power (Bulbs)
 Bulb Holder
 Metre scale
 Multi Meter
 Battery

3
1. LDR and it’s 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.
λ0 = threshold wavelength, in meters
e = charge on one electron, in Coulombs
Eω = work function of the metal used, in Ev

4
Characteristics:

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

called as dark resistance. This resistance is typically of the
order of 1013ohms. 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 of520nm. Thus it can be used
nearer to the infra-red region up to750nm. It was found
that the maximum response of Cadmium Sulphoselenideis in
the yellow-orange range at 615nmand 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 photo cell, 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 sphere, take a small element dA on the
sphere 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
9
 Set the knob of multimeter on the point marked current.
 Place a thick piece of black paper on the LDR, so that no light falls
on the LDR. Record the current in the multimeter.
 Remove the black paper from the LDR. Record the current in
multimeter in presence of normal light in the laboratory and
determine the resistance of LDR by using the formula R=V/I.
 Measure the resistance of LDR by placing a lamp of 10W over it.
 Measure the resistances for all lamps say 20W, 40W, 60W, 100W
by replacing the 10W lamp, one by one.
 Now, select any one lamp (say 40W) a move it toward the LDR for a
distance 10cm and note the electric current in multimeter.
 Move the same lamp towards the LDR to a distance 8cm and again
record the current.
 Similarly, record the current in multimeter for the distances 6cm,
4cm and 2cm.

10
1. The emf at battery =
2. Range of multimeter =
3. Least count of multimeter =
4. Zero error for multimeter =

11
 Table 1 For Different Power Lamps

The distance of all lamps from LDR =

S.No. Mode Of Incident Electric Resistance
Light Current (I) (mA) R=V/I Ω

1 With black paper

2 Lamp of W

3 Lamp of W

4 Lamp of W

5 Lamp of W

12
 Table 2 For A Lamp Placed At Different
Distances

Power of lamp =
S.No. Distance b/w Electric Resistance
Source and LDR Current (I) (mA) R=V/I Ω
(cm)
1 10

2 8

3 6

4 4

5 2

13
 From Table 1, it is concluded that electric current
flowing through a circuit, containing LDR,
increasing with increase in the power (in tensity) of
the lamps. Hence, resistance of LDR decreases.
 From Table 2, it is concluded that the electric
current flowing through a circuit, containing LDR,
increases with decrease in the distance b/w source
of fixed power and LDR. Hence, with the increase
in distance b/w light source and LDR increases the
resistance of the LDR and vice-versa.

14
1. The source of light must be adjusted so that
light falls normally on the LDR.
2. Select suitable range of current in
multimeter.
3. Source of light must radiate light
continuously.
4. Connect LDR carefully to the voltage source.
5. The distance b/w source and LDR must be
measured accurately.

15
 NCERT Physics Class XII
 Practical Physics Lab Manual
 www.google.com
 www.wikipedia.com
 www.electronics2000.co.uk/links/education-
hobby/
 www.ecelab.com

16
17