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Junior Cycle · Junior Cycle Science

Junior Cycle Science: Earth-Sun-Moon system

How often Earth-Sun-Moon system comes up on the Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

CL Asked on 6 of the last 6 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Earth-Sun-Moon system, Common Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Earth-Sun-Moon system.

(a)What causes day and night on Earth?
  1. Earth orbiting the Sun
  2. Earth spinning on its axis
  3. The Sun moving around the Earth
(b)What causes the seasons on Earth?
  1. The Sun giving out more heat in summer
  2. Earth's changing distance from the Sun
  3. Earth's tilted axis as it orbits the Sun
(c)During a solar eclipse, which body is in the middle of the line?
  1. The Moon
  2. The Sun
  3. The Earth
Show the answers

(a) Earth spinning on its axis

(b) Earth's tilted axis as it orbits the Sun

(c) The Moon

Your turn: Common Level questions on Earth-Sun-Moon system.

Common Level

Asked on 6 of the last 6 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q10, Q13
2025Q13, Q14
2024Q14
2023Q13
2022Q2, Q6, Q11
2019Q16

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

More Earth-Sun-Moon system questions

Earth-Sun-Moon system, 3 marks

In Ireland, at what time of year is your shadow at midday shortest?

  1. Winter
  2. Autumn
  3. Summer
Show the answer

Summer

In summer the Sun climbs highest in the sky at midday, so shadows are shortest. In winter the Sun stays low, giving long shadows even at noon.

Earth-Sun-Moon system, 3 marks

How many times does Earth orbit the Sun in 30 months?

  1. 15 times
  2. 2.5 times
  3. 30 times
Show the answer

2.5 times

One orbit of the Sun takes one year (12 months), so 30 months is 30 ÷ 12 = 2.5 orbits. The Moon, by contrast, orbits Earth about once a month.

Other Science topics

All of Junior Cycle Science