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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 5 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.An electric charge on the balloon attracts them
  • B.The paper is magnetic
  • C.The balloon is sticky
2.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
3.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
4.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
5.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
6.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
7.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
8.A paperclip jumps to a magnet 4 cm away. What does that show?
  • A.The clip was already moving
  • B.A magnet can pull without touching
  • C.Something invisible pushed it

LessonPrint · 3-PS2-3 · Set 5 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Acting Across a Gap

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

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