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Acting Across a Gap is a free printable Grade 3 science worksheet on cause and effect in electric and magnetic interactions without contact, aligned to Common Core standard 3-PS2-3. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 11 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Acting Across a Gap

3-PS2-3

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.A clip does not move at 8 cm but does at 4 cm. What does distance do?
  • A.The nearer the magnet, the stronger the effect
  • B.Distance makes no difference
  • C.Further is stronger
2.Two magnets pushed together the wrong way spring apart. What is the cause?
  • A.They are too heavy
  • B.The air pushed them
  • C.Like poles repel each other
3.The steel plate stopped the magnet moving the clip. What does that show?
  • A.Magnets stop working near steel
  • B.Some materials block the magnetic pull
  • C.The clip was tired
4.A magnet moves a clip through a sheet of paper. What does that show?
  • A.The pull passes through some materials
  • B.Paper is magnetic
  • C.The clip is paper
5.Why is the magnet's effect a cause-and-effect relationship?
  • A.Moving the magnet nearer causes the clip to move
  • B.Because it is interesting
  • C.Because clips are metal
6.How would you show a pull acts across a gap?
  • A.Measure the distance at which the clip first moves
  • B.Weigh the magnet
  • C.Touch the clip with the magnet
7.A rubbed balloon picks up small pieces of paper. What is the cause?
  • A.The balloon is sticky
  • B.An electric charge on the balloon attracts them
  • C.The paper is magnetic
8.A paperclip jumps to a magnet 4 cm away. What does that show?
  • A.A magnet can pull without touching
  • B.The clip was already moving
  • C.Something invisible pushed it

LessonPrint · 3-PS2-3 · Set 11 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Acting Across a Gap

Set 11. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The nearer the magnet, the stronger the effect
  2. 2.Like poles repel each other
  3. 3.Some materials block the magnetic pull
  4. 4.The pull passes through some materials
  5. 5.Moving the magnet nearer causes the clip to move
  6. 6.Measure the distance at which the clip first moves
  7. 7.An electric charge on the balloon attracts them
  8. 8.A magnet can pull without touching

More practice for 3-PS2-3

Ask what causes two objects to attract or repel without touching.

Teaching this next? Acting Across a Gap is the 55-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 3-PS2-3 of the Next Generation Science Standards.