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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 24 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 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
2.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
3.The steel plate stopped the magnet moving the clip. What does that show?
  • A.Magnets stop working near steel
  • B.The clip was tired
  • C.Some materials block the magnetic pull
4.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
5.Why is the magnet's effect a cause-and-effect relationship?
  • A.Because it is interesting
  • B.Because clips are metal
  • C.Moving the magnet nearer causes the clip to move
6.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
7.A magnet moves a clip through a sheet of paper. What does that show?
  • A.The pull passes through some materials
  • B.The clip is paper
  • C.Paper is magnetic
8.Two magnets pushed together the wrong way spring apart. What is the cause?
  • A.Like poles repel each other
  • B.The air pushed them
  • C.They are too heavy

LessonPrint · 3-PS2-3 · Set 24 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Acting Across a Gap

Set 24. Prints on its own sheet.

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