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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 21 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.Further is stronger
  • B.The nearer the magnet, the stronger the effect
  • C.Distance makes no difference
2.How would you show a pull acts across a gap?
  • A.Weigh the magnet
  • B.Measure the distance at which the clip first moves
  • C.Touch the clip with the magnet
3.A paperclip jumps to a magnet 4 cm away. What does that show?
  • A.The clip was already moving
  • B.Something invisible pushed it
  • C.A magnet can pull without touching
4.A rubbed balloon picks up small pieces of paper. What is the cause?
  • A.An electric charge on the balloon attracts them
  • B.The paper is magnetic
  • C.The balloon is sticky
5.Why is the magnet's effect a cause-and-effect relationship?
  • A.Moving the magnet nearer causes the clip to move
  • B.Because clips are metal
  • C.Because it is interesting
6.The steel plate stopped the magnet moving the clip. What does that show?
  • A.The clip was tired
  • B.Some materials block the magnetic pull
  • C.Magnets stop working near steel
7.A magnet moves a clip through a sheet of paper. What does that show?
  • A.The clip is paper
  • B.Paper is magnetic
  • C.The pull passes through some materials
8.Two magnets pushed together the wrong way spring apart. What is the cause?
  • A.The air pushed them
  • B.They are too heavy
  • C.Like poles repel each other

LessonPrint · 3-PS2-3 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Acting Across a Gap

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

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

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.