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Subjects · Leaving Cert Construction Studies

Leaving Cert Construction Studies: Daylight & artificial lighting

How often Daylight & artificial lighting comes up on the Construction Studies papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 3 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.

OL Asked on 2 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2019.

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Construction Studies course. These come from the 2016–2025 papers, so read them as a guide.

Daylight & artificial lighting, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Daylight & artificial lighting.

(a)One advantage of LED lamps over compact fluorescent lamps?
  1. They give out much more heat as well
  2. Less energy, longer life and no mercury
  3. They always cost less to buy in the first place
(b)Why does a roof light give more daylight than a same-size vertical window?
  1. It reflects light off the ground
  2. It lets in only direct sunlight
  3. It faces the brightest part of the sky
(c)What is glare?
  1. Excessive brightness contrast that causes discomfort
  2. An echo off hard surfaces in a bright room
  3. A lack of light at the back of a deep room
Show the answers

(a) Less energy, longer life and no mercury

(b) It faces the brightest part of the sky

(c) Excessive brightness contrast that causes discomfort

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Daylight & artificial lighting.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Q9
2022Not asked
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Q8
2016Q3

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

More Daylight & artificial lighting questions

Daylight & artificial lighting, 2 marks

Why do light-coloured walls and ceilings improve daylight in a room?

  1. They absorb the sun's heat
  2. They increase the sky light entering
  3. They reflect more light deeper into the room
Show the answer

They reflect more light deeper into the room

Pale surfaces bounce light around the room so the back of it is brighter and more even. Dark finishes absorb the light instead.

Daylight & artificial lighting, 3 marks

For the same area, why does a tall window light a room better than a wide low one?

  1. Low windows reflect more light back outside
  2. Light from a high window reaches deeper into the room
  3. Tall windows let in less sky, so the light is softer inside
Show the answer

Light from a high window reaches deeper into the room

As a rule of thumb, useful daylight reaches about 2 to 2.5 times the window head height into a room, so a higher head brings light further back.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 2 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2019.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Not asked
2019Q8i
2018Q8i
2017Not asked
2016Not asked

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

More Daylight & artificial lighting questions

Daylight & artificial lighting, 2 marks

Main advantage of LED lamps over older bulbs?

  1. They give off more heat to warm the room
  2. They contain mercury to make them much brighter
  3. They use much less electricity and last longer
Show the answer

They use much less electricity and last longer

LEDs turn most of their energy into light, not heat, so they cost less to run. They also last many years and switch on at full brightness.

Daylight & artificial lighting, 3 marks

Why does a rooflight usually let in more light than a wall window of the same size?

  1. It is closer to the floor
  2. It faces the bright sky directly
  3. The glass in it is thinner
Show the answer

It faces the bright sky directly

A rooflight looks straight up at the brightest part of the sky, with no buildings or trees in the way, so it lights the room much more.

Daylight & artificial lighting, 2 marks

Why use light-coloured walls and ceilings in a room?

  1. They reflect light and make the room brighter
  2. They absorb more of the sun's heat in the room
  3. They hide dirt and marks better than dark ones
Show the answer

They reflect light and make the room brighter

Pale surfaces bounce daylight deep into the room, so less artificial light is needed. Dark surfaces soak up light.

Other Construction Studies topics

All of Leaving Cert Construction Studies