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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 2 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.

Coils, Batteries and Paperclips

3-PS2-3

NameDate

Look at the results, then answer.

1.
1 cm3 cm5 cm8 cm02468101214
Paper pieces lifted by a rubbed balloon held at four heights above them. Which height lifted the fewest?
2.
Iron nailWooden pencil012345678
Clips lifted by two coils of 30 turns, one around an iron nail and one around a wooden pencil. Which lifted the most?
3.
Fridge magnetBar magnetHorseshoe magnetTwo bar magnets01234567
Distance at which a clip first jumped to four magnets, in centimeters. Which magnet pulled from furthest away?
4.
One magnetTwo magnetsThree magnets02468101214
Clips held in a chain by one, two and three magnets stacked together. Which held the most?

LessonPrint · 3-PS2-3 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Coils, Batteries and Paperclips

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.8 cm, which lifted 0 pieces.
  2. 2.The iron nail, which lifted 8 clips.
  3. 3.Two bar magnets, which pulled from 7 cm away.
  4. 4.Three magnets, which held 15 clips.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 3-PS2-3 of the Next Generation Science Standards.