I want to build a project in a LDR gives the commands of off and on while the potentiometer controls the speed of the motor when the LDR is turned "on". Does anyone have any idea where to start research on a project like this? I am new to the whole programming community so any help would be amazing.
Voltage divider and analogRead would be useful terms to google to get started; they're relevant to reading both of your pieces of hardware.
Edit: typo
wildbill:
Voltage divider and analogRead would be useful terms to google to get started; they're relevant to reading both of your pieces of hardware.Edit: typo
Thank you! You are saying that this sort of thing is possible though, correct?
Yes, but take baby steps. Try to read a pot first. Then try to interface with the LDR. Then the motor etc.
And please just use reply instead quote if it's not useful.
Also if anyone is interested in writing up the schematic and code for me to do this, I would be willing to pay them
We have a forum section for that 
LDR switches transistor to pot, pot connects to other transistor regulating motor speed. Don't see where the Arduino comes in.
^^ you are the goat.
wvmarle:
LDR switches transistor to pot, pot connects to other transistor regulating motor speed. Don't see where the Arduino comes in.
You're right. Aside from the horrible inefficiency of the linear transistor driver and the unpredictability of the input-output relationship, I don't think there's much room for an Arduino to improve this circuit.
Jiggy-Ninja:
You're right. Aside from the horrible inefficiency of the linear transistor driver and the unpredictability of the input-output relationship, I don't think there's much room for an Arduino to improve this circuit.
Honestly I am so new to this that I can't tell if this is sarcastic or not lol
If someone says "There is no problem except..." followed by a long list of problems I think it's sarcastic 