Advanced Circuits

Diodes, Thermistors and LDR

Video Time!

Diodes in our Circuits

Diodes are used in many different

circuits depending on the need. For
example, light emitting diodes (LEDs)
are used to indicate that something is
working. Other diodes are used to
protect your computers and to change
alternating current to direct current.
Basically, diodes only allow current to
pass in the direction of the arrow on
the symbol.

What is the
symbol for a
diode?
DIODE
How does
the IV graph
of a diode
look like?

What is
characteristic
about diodes?

IS DIODE AN OHMIC
Recap: what is an Ohmic conductor?
CONDUCTOR?

IS DIODE AN OHMIC
CONDUCTOR?

Recap: what is an Ohmic conductor?

IS DIODE AN OHMIC
CONDUCTOR?

Recap: what is an Ohmic conductor?

The Light Emitting Diode

Lets draw the symbol for an LED!

The Light Emitting Diode

You are given a 1.5 V dry cell, a
resistor, a LED and a switch. Connect
the LED to the dry cell and the resistor
such that the LED light up.
Draw your circuit.

The Light Emitting Diode

What do you notice about
how the dry cell must be
connected to the leads of
the LED?

The Light Emitting Diode

What do you notice about
how the dry cell must be
connected to the leads of
the LED?

Sensing our Environment

The output of an electrical device can be

changed by changing the resistance in
the circuit. The resistance can be changed
manually by pressing a button or using a
remote control but many electrical
devices change their output by sensing
their environment.
What are some environmental factors that
may be sensed by an electrical device?

Thermistor
Draw the symbol of a thermistor.

Draw graph of
Sketch a I-V
resistance
graph for a
against
thermistor.
temperature for
a thermistor. THERMISTOR
Sketch I-V
graphs for a
thermistor at (i)
high
temperature,
and (ii) low
temperature.

Thermistor
You have: two multimeters, a
thermistor, a switch, a dry cell and
some connecting wires.
Connect the thermistor in a circuit to
find the resistance of the thermistor
at room temperature. Draw your
circuit.

Note: when using the multimeter for ammeter setting, ALWAYS set
multimeter to 200 mA and for voltmeter setting, ALWAYS set

Thermistor
Collect one set of data and find the
resistance of the thermistor at room
temperature.

Thermistor
Explain how you will expect the
resistance of the thermistor to change
when the thermistor is placed in a
refrigerator.

LDR
Draw the symbol of an LDR.

LDR
Draw graph of resistance against light
intensity for a LDR.

THERMISTORS AND LDR

IN EVERYDAY
APPLICATIONS

Useful Application
What do you think this circuit is used
for?
automatically switch on a lamp
automatically switch on a heater
when it gets cold
sounds a buzzer in a fire alarm
sound a buzzer when LDR is exposed
to light in a burglar alarm

Summary / Conclusion /
Hmwk!
1. Fill in the summary sheet and hand
it in to your Physics rep.
2. Complete your homework for
presentation and discussion the next
lesson. Write your answers BIG BIG
on mahjong paper.