Coils, Batteries and Paperclips is a free printable Grade 3 science worksheet on measuring cause and effect in electromagnets and other non-contact forces, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 3-PS2-3. It prints 4 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Clips pulled up by a bar magnet held at four heights above them. Which height pulled up the most?
2.
Paperclips lifted by a nail wrapped in wire, by number of turns. Which number of turns lifted the most?
3.
Clips held in a chain by one, two and three magnets stacked together. Which held the most?
4.
Paperclips lifted by the coil with its switch on and off. Which lifted the fewest?
LessonPrint · 3-PS2-3 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Coils, Batteries and Paperclips
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1 cm, which pulled up 9 clips.
2.40 turns, which lifted 11 clips.
3.Three magnets, which held 15 clips.
4.Switch off, which lifted 0 clips.
Questions about Coils, Batteries and Paperclips
What does the Coils, Batteries and Paperclips worksheet cover?
It practices measuring cause and effect in electromagnets and other non-contact forces — 4 questions for Grade 3, all on NGSS 3-PS2-3: Ask what causes two objects to attract or repel without touching. The instruction to students is “Look at the results, then answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which NGSS performance expectation does Coils, Batteries and Paperclips practice?
3-PS2-3, under Physical Science for Grade 3. The published performance expectation reads: “Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.” The worksheet assesses that performance expectation rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Coils, Batteries and Paperclips is written for Grade 3, typically ages 8-9. It is one of the sheets on 3-PS2-3, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Coils, Batteries and Paperclips come with an answer key?
Yes. All 4 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Coils, Batteries and Paperclips can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Coils, Batteries and Paperclips free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Coils, Batteries and Paperclips, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for 3-PS2-3
Ask what causes two objects to attract or repel without touching.