解:$ (2)$将图$③$的侧面沿高展开,如图①
由题意可知,彩条的最短长度是指侧面展开图中线段$EG $的长
∵直四棱柱的上、下底面是正方形,底面边长为$3\ \mathrm {cm},$绕侧面两周,∴$EF = 3×4×2 = 24(\mathrm {cm})$
又∵高$FG = 10\ \mathrm {cm}。$在$Rt\triangle EFG $中,可得$EG=\sqrt {EF^2+FG^2}=\sqrt {24^2 + 10^2}=26(\mathrm {cm})$
$ $则彩条的最短长度为$26\ \mathrm {cm}$
$ (3)$将图$④$的侧面沿高展开,如图②
$ $作点$P $关于直线$MN$的对称点$P',$过点$Q $作$QS\perp MS $于点$S,$连接$P'Q,$$MP$
则$∠P'SQ = 90°,$$P',$$M,$$P $三点共线
∴该蚂蚁爬行的最短路径长是线段$P'Q $的长
由题意得,$SQ=\frac 12×30 = 15(\mathrm {cm}),$$MP' = MP = 2\ \mathrm {cm},$$MS= 35 - 1 = 34(\mathrm {cm})$
∴$P'S = MP' + MS = 2 + 34 = 36(\mathrm {cm})$
$ $在$Rt\triangle P'SQ $中,可得$P'Q=\sqrt {P'S^2+SQ^2}=\sqrt {36^2 + 15^2}=39(\mathrm {cm})$
$ $则这只蚂蚁爬行的最短路径长为$39\ \mathrm {cm}$