MS-PS2-3

← MS-PS2-2

MS-PS2-4 →

Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.

Clarification statement: Examples of devices that use electric and magnetic forces could include electromagnets, electric motors, or generators. Examples of data could include the effect of the number of turns of wire on the strength of an electromagnet, or the effect of increasing the number or strength of magnets on the speed of an electric motor.

Assessment boundary: Assessment about questions that require quantitative answers is limited to proportional reasoning and algebraic thinking.

Grade 8 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-PS2-3 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

Exam	Cluster	Question
Spring 2026 Grade 8 Test	Forces and Fields	Question 18
	Forces and Fields	Question 19
Spring 2025 Grade 8 Test	Practical Applications of Magnetism	Question 42
	Practical Applications of Magnetism	Question 43

Vocabulary

Terms from the Middle School Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 8 Science Test questions that assess it.

From this standard

• algebraic thinking
• attractive force
• cause and effect relationship
• data
• distance
• electric charge
• electric current
• electric force
• electric motor
• electromagnet
• electromagnetic force
• generator
• investigation
• magnet
• magnetic force
• magnetic strength
• magnitude of charge
• proportional reasoning
• quantitative
• repulsive force
• speed
• strength of a force
• testable question

From released test questions

• coil – Spring 2026, Spring 2025
• current source – Spring 2025
• data table – Spring 2025
• experimental setup – Spring 2025
• graph – Spring 2025
• magnetic field – Spring 2026
• magnetic field sensor – Spring 2026
• magnetic field strength – Spring 2026
• mass – Spring 2025
• metal – Spring 2026, Spring 2025
• power supply – Spring 2026
• safety equipment – Spring 2025
• safety procedure – Spring 2025
• temperature – Spring 2025
• variable – Spring 2025

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-PS2-3 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Identify a question about given information and data that would help determine the factors that affect the strength of electric or magnetic forces. Spring 2026 Question 18

Level 2: Given data, determine one factor that affects the strength of an electric or magnetic force. Spring 2026 Question 19, Spring 2025 Question 43

Level 3: Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces. Spring 2025 Question 42

Level 4: Ask testable questions to carry out investigations to gather data required to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces based on cause and effect relationships.

Notice: PLD levels!

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-PS2-3.

This section could be expanded upon. You can help out by adding to this section.

NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation MS-PS2-3 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

• Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
  • Plan an investigation to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• PS2.B: Types of Interactions
  • Electric and magnetic (electromagnetic) forces can be attractive or repulsive, and their sizes depend on the magnitudes of the charges, currents, or magnetic strengths involved and on the distances between the interacting objects.

Crosscutting Concepts

• Cause and Effect
  • Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural or designed systems.

Page contributors: Caroline Leonard, Conrad Richman, Shirley Shameen

MS | MS. Forces and Interactions