Forces and Motion Cluster Assessment
New York State Elementary Science Grade 3-5 Cluster Item Set
Pushes, Pulls, and Magnets
SCIENCE TEST
Name:
Date:
Directions: Read the story about Maya and Liam. Look at the picture and Table 1. Then answer questions 1 and 2.
The Toy Cart on the Track
Maya and Liam test a toy cart on a 100-centimeter track. They want to see how pushes and magnets make the cart speed up, slow down, or stay still. They tape a magnet to each end of the cart and each end of the track.
0 cm (Left) 50 cm (Middle) 100 cm (Right) N N Toy Cart N N Push Right →
Table 1: What Happened to the Cart (3-PS2-1)
| Test | Start Spot | Push on the Cart | What the Cart Did |
|---|
| Test 1 | Middle (50 cm) | Liam pushed the cart to the right | The cart rolled faster and faster to the right |
| Test 2 | Rolling near 80 cm | The wall magnet pushed back to the left | The cart slowed down, stopped, and rolled back |
| Test 3 | Middle (50 cm) | Both magnets pushed with equal force | The cart stayed completely still |
1
Forces are unbalanced when one push is stronger than another push. Which test shows that unbalanced forces made the cart change its motion?
A Test 3, because the cart stayed still when both pushes were equal.
B Test 1, because Liam's push started the cart rolling from rest.
C Test 2, because the cart never fell off the track.
D All tests, because the cart always had wheels.
2
In Test 3, the cart stayed completely still because the pushes were balanced (equal). What would make the cart start rolling to the left?
A Make both pushes bigger by the exact same amount.
B Take away both magnets completely.
C Give the cart an extra push toward the left.
D Paint the cart blue so it moves faster.
Grade 3 Science • Forces & Motion Page 1 Turn the page →
GRADE 3 SCIENCE • FORCES AND MOTION Name:
Part 2: Finding a Pattern to Predict Motion (3-PS2-2)
Liam hangs a magnet on a string like a swing. He pulls it back to different heights and lets it go. When it swings down, it pushes the cart down the track. Maya measures how far the cart rolls each time.
Pull Back Height The magnet swings back and forth
Table 2: Pull-Back Height and Rolling Distance
| Test | Pull-Back Height | How Far Cart Rolled |
|---|
| Test 1 | 10 cm | 15 cm |
| Test 2 | 20 cm | 30 cm |
| Test 3 | 30 cm | 45 cm |
| Test 4 | 40 cm | 60 cm |
| Test 5 | 50 cm | ? (Predict) |
3
Look for a pattern in Table 2. Each time the magnet is pulled back 10 cm higher, how far will the cart roll in Test 5 when pulled back to 50 cm?
A 50 cm
B 65 cm
C 75 cm
D 90 cm
Part 3: Magnets Push Without Touching (3-PS2-3)
Next, the students put two ring magnets on a wooden stick. The magnets have the same poles facing each other (North to North). The top magnet floats in the air! The two magnets push each other apart without touching.
S N N S Gap
What They Saw: The top magnet floats in the air. When Maya puts weights on the top magnet, the gap gets smaller because the magnets get pushed closer together.
4
Which question could Maya and Liam test to see how the space between two magnets changes their push?
A Does bringing two magnets closer together make them push apart with more force?
B Is a wooden stick smoother than a plastic stick?
C How fast does paint dry on a magnet?
D What color paint looks best on the magnets?
Grade 3 Science • Forces & Motion Page 2 Turn the page →
GRADE 3 SCIENCE • FORCES AND MOTION Name:
Design Challenge: Stop the Cart Safely! (3-PS2-4)
The cart rolls very fast and crashes into the wooden end wall. Maya and Liam want to build a magnetic bumper that slows down and stops the cart before it hits the wall.
5
Short Response: Explain how two magnets can slow down and stop the moving cart before it hits the wall.
In your writing, be sure to answer both parts:
- Do the two magnets need to touch each other to push?
- How does this magnetic push change the speed and direction of the cart?
6
Design Problem: Maya and Liam put one magnet on the front of the cart and one magnet on the wall to make a bumper.
Part A: Fill in the blanks about their bumper design:
Goal (What it must do):
Rule (A limit to follow):
Part B: Write N (North) or S (South) on each magnet below so they push away from each other (repel).
Bumper Picture
[ ]
Cart Magnet
<--- Gap ---> (No touching!)
[ ]
Wall Magnet
Write N or S in each box above
Explain why your poles stop the cart before it hits the wall:
STOP • END OF TEST Page 3 Grade 3 Science Assessment
