Force Factor Test
Grade 3 Science • Unit Assessment
Force Factor Exam
Total Score _____ / 30
Name:
Date:
Period:
Directions: Read each question carefully. For multiple-choice questions, fill in the bubble completely. Write clearly in the spaces provided.
1 Part 1: Force Fundamentals
6 Points (1 pt each)
Identify whether each everyday action is a Push or a Pull.
1. Kicking a soccer ball forward
Push Pull
2. Reeling in a fish on a line
Push Pull
3. Opening a desk drawer toward you
Push Pull
4. Pressing a doorbell button
Push Pull
5. A force is defined in science as a or a that acts upon an object.
6. The contact force that acts when two surfaces rub together and causes moving objects to slow down is called .
2 Part 2: Motion, Speed & Direction
8 Points (2 pts each)
7. Elijah rolls a toy car with a gentle push, and it travels 3 feet. Next, he pushes the same car with twice as much force. What will most likely happen?
A. The car will travel at a slower speed. B. The car will move faster and travel farther. C. The car will turn in reverse right away. D. The car will stop instantly.
8. Four students roll identical rubber balls across four different hallway surfaces using equal force. On which surface will the ball roll the farthest before coming to a stop?
A. Thick, fuzzy classroom carpet B. Rough sandpaper sheets C. Polished, smooth gym floor tile D. A gravel walkway outside
9. During gym class, Liam and Noah push on opposite sides of a heavy equipment cart. Both boys push with equal strength in opposite directions. What happens to the cart?
A. It speeds up toward Liam. B. It does not move because forces are balanced. C. It rolls in a circle continuously. D. It instantly flies upward into the air.
10. A tennis ball is flying forward through the air. A player swings a racket and hits the side of the ball. What changes about the ball's motion?
A. Only its color changes. B. Its mass doubles immediately. C. Both its speed and its direction change. D. Nothing changes about how it moves.
Grade 3 Science • Force & Motion Summative Exam Page 1 of 2 • Continue to Next Page →
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Force Factor Exam • Investigation & Analysis
Student Name:
3 Part 3: The Ramp & Motion Investigation
8 Points
Students released a toy car down a smooth ramp from three heights, measuring how far it rolled across the floor.
Investigation Setup
Height (cm) Distance Rolled
Starting heights tested: 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm
Recorded Results
| Trial | Ramp Height | Distance Rolled |
|---|
| Trial 1 | 10 cm | 40 cm |
| Trial 2 | 20 cm | 80 cm |
| Trial 3 | 30 cm | 120 cm |
Notice the pattern in distance as height increases.
11. Which force pulls the toy car downward along the ramp without anyone touching it? (2 pts)
Gravity Magnetism Wind power Electricity
12. Look at the pattern in the data table. Predict how far the car will roll from a height of 40 cm, and explain your reasoning. (3 pts)
13. What would happen to the car's speed and stopping distance if the smooth floor was covered with a thick rug? Name the force responsible. (3 pts)
4 Part 4: Soccer Motion Challenge
8 Points
Scenario: Mateo kicks a soccer ball straight forward across the grass. While it is still rolling, Sarah runs up from the side and kicks the rolling ball firmly toward the right.
14. What happens to the ball's direction when Sarah kicks it from the side? (2 pts)
15. How can Mateo make the ball go faster in its new direction? What push is needed? (3 pts)
16. The goalkeeper catches the moving ball with two hands, bringing it to a complete stop. Explain what force stopped the ball and whether it was balanced or unbalanced. (3 pts)
Grade 3 Science • Force & Motion Summative Exam End of Exam • Page 2 of 2
Force Factor Answer Key
Teacher Scoring Guide • Grade 3 Science
Force Factor Answer Key
Total Available 30 Points
Focus Standards: NGSS 3-PS2-1 (Forces & Motion) & 3-PS2-2 (Patterns of Motion) Target Time: 40–45 minutes
1 Part 1: Force Fundamentals (6 Points)
1 pt each
1. Kicking a soccer ball forward PUSH
2. Reeling in a fish on a line PULL
3. Opening a desk drawer toward you PULL
4. Pressing a doorbell button PUSH
5. A force is defined as a push or a pull that acts upon an object.
1 pt (either order)
6. Contact force that slows moving objects down: friction.
1 pt
2 Part 2: Motion, Speed & Direction (8 Points)
2 pts each
7. Effect of Greater Push Force on Car Correct: B
B: The car will move faster and travel farther.
Rationale: Applying a stronger unbalanced force in the direction of motion increases the object's acceleration and final speed.
8. Rolling Distance on Different Surfaces Correct: C
C: Polished, smooth gym floor tile.
Rationale: Smooth surfaces generate much less frictional resistance than rough carpet, sandpaper, or gravel, allowing kinetic motion to persist longer.
9. Equal Opposite Pushes on Cart Correct: B
B: It does not move because forces are balanced.
Rationale: When two equal forces push directly against one another in opposite directions, the net force is zero; no change in motion occurs.
10. Tennis Ball Struck from the Side Correct: C
C: Both its speed and its direction change.
Rationale: A contact push applied at an angle to a moving object alters both the trajectory (direction) and the magnitude of motion (speed).
Common Misconception Alert: Many 3rd graders believe moving objects stop on their own because their "push runs out." Remind students that friction and air resistance are actual forces acting against the motion to stop it.
Grade 3 Science • Force Factor Teacher Answer Key Page 1 of 2 • Continue to Next Page →
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Teacher Key • Constructed Responses & Scoring Rubric
Pages 1 & 2 • 30 Pts Total
3 Part 3: Ramp & Motion Investigation (8 Points)
