LED Diode provides small bright light, and is mostly used in computer, TVs, remote controls, mobile phones, and on many more electrical appliances.
LDR Can be used to monitor light intensity level. It changes its resistance depending on the amount of light.
555 microprocessor Looks like spider with its eight legs. It is a small chip, which controls the flow of energy within the circuit- it acts like the brain of the circuit as everything as to be connected to it.
RESISTOR This reduces the flow of current in the circuit.
BATTERY 9v battery will be needed to supply voltage to the circuit.
We tested the nightlight by covering up the LDR with a finger; this makes the light brighten up. However when I removed the finger from the LDR the LED went off. When there is no light the LED comes on, however when there is light getting into the LDR the LED goes off. The LED only comes on when it is dark therefore when the LDR is uncovered it will reflect lights switch off the LED.
At first when I first made the circuit it did not work, therefore I asked the technicians to help me test the components, the physics and technology teachers to check the circuit. They did this and I was given a full results on the problem. There was a missing cable and another cable was misplaced. I then used this information to repeat the circuit. Following the information helped me to complete the circuit to my best of ability. After the LED had come on during my covering of the LDR and switch off when I take my finger of the LDR, I was able to see that the circuit was working perfectly.
After this I used a light meter to measured the light intensity, this is so that at some levels the nightlights will responds. I then drew a table of it.
Looking at the result, I wished that the levels of nightlight had responded faster that it had done.
EVALUATION
At first when I made the circuit, it did not work, therefore I asked an expert to help me look at the components and the board. The technicians looked at them and then they gave me a full report on the circuit- this helped me to then repeat the circuit again. After repeating the circuit I noticed where my mistakes occurred and I was able to correct them. While I was connecting the circuit the first time I had missed out a cable. I took a notice of this and repeat the circuit again.
At the end I had a working circuit. The circuit worked perfectly after I had covered the LDR up with my finger, then remove it to see the reaction without the LDR being cover.
The experiment had worked according to how I had planned it however I do wish that the level of nightlight could have respond faster than it had done. Apart from this nothing else need considering. This experiment was a experience for me, because in the pass when I had made it nothing had gone wrong at the time and now seeing something wrong showed me that learning from your mistakes is better than being perfect at all time
DISCUSSION
When making a commercial product I would have to consider the costs of the components, this is so that I will not use more than am supposed to use. Then I would consider the light strength- considering the light strength can help decrease the amount of money spent. Most importantly bulb have to be consider, as you need the right voltage bulb and a good quality of bulb should be use.
