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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 19 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 rubbed balloon picks up small pieces of paper. What is the cause?
  • A.The paper is magnetic
  • B.An electric charge on the balloon attracts them
  • C.The balloon is sticky
2.How would you show a pull acts across a gap?
  • A.Touch the clip with the magnet
  • B.Weigh the magnet
  • C.Measure the distance at which the clip first moves
3.The steel plate stopped the magnet moving the clip. What does that show?
  • A.The clip was tired
  • B.Magnets stop working near steel
  • C.Some materials block the magnetic pull
4.A magnet moves a clip through a sheet of paper. What does that show?
  • A.The clip is paper
  • B.The pull passes through some materials
  • C.Paper is magnetic
5.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
6.Why is the magnet's effect a cause-and-effect relationship?
  • A.Because it is interesting
  • B.Moving the magnet nearer causes the clip to move
  • C.Because clips are metal
7.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.Further is stronger
  • C.Distance makes no difference
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 19 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Acting Across a Gap

Set 19. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.An electric charge on the balloon attracts them
  2. 2.Measure the distance at which the clip first moves
  3. 3.Some materials block the magnetic pull
  4. 4.The pull passes through some materials
  5. 5.Like poles repel each other
  6. 6.Moving the magnet nearer causes the clip to move
  7. 7.The nearer the magnet, the stronger the effect
  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.