Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Junior Cycle · Junior Cycle Engineering

Junior Cycle Engineering: Electronic components

How often Electronic components comes up on the Engineering papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

CL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Electronic components, Common Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Electronic components.

(a)What does LED stand for?
  1. Low-energy device
  2. Light-emitting diode
  3. Light-energy detector
(b)How can you tell which leg of an LED is the cathode (negative)?
  1. The leg with a bend near its tip
  2. The longer leg, by the round edge
  3. The shorter leg, by the flat edge
(c)Why is a resistor connected in series with an LED?
  1. To limit the current so the LED survives
  2. To store charge in case the power fails
  3. To make the LED flash on and off
Show the answers

(a) Light-emitting diode

(b) The shorter leg, by the flat edge

(c) To limit the current so the LED survives

Your turn: Common Level questions on Electronic components.

Common Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q2c, Q3a, Q3f
2025Q1a, Q1d, Q4b
2024Q2d
2023Q3c, Q4d
2022Q3e

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Electronic components questions

Electronic components, 2 marks

What does a push-to-make switch do?

  1. Breaks the circuit only while pressed
  2. Stays on until it is pressed again
  3. Completes the circuit only while pressed
Show the answer

Completes the circuit only while pressed

A push-to-make switch, like a doorbell, connects only while held down. Push-to-break is the reverse. A latching switch stays in its new position until pressed again.

Electronic components, 3 marks

Which switch is worked by a moving part pressing its lever, e.g. to stop a motor at the end of its travel?

  1. Toggle switch
  2. Microswitch
  3. Reed switch
Show the answer

Microswitch

A lever microswitch is often used as a limit switch: when a moving part hits the lever, it clicks and stops the motor. A reed switch is closed by a magnet, e.g. in door alarms.

Other Engineering topics

All of Junior Cycle Engineering