Contact and non-contact forces

What is a contact force?

A contact force is a force that requires two objects to be physically touching. Examples include friction, tension, and air resistance.

What is a non-contact force?

A non-contact force acts at a distance without physical contact. Examples include gravitational, electrostatic, and magnetic forces.

What is friction?

Friction is a force that resists the motion of objects sliding or rolling over each other.

What is air resistance?

Air resistance is a type of friction that acts on objects moving through the air.

How does gravity affect objects on Earth?

Gravity pulls objects towards the center of the Earth, giving them weight.

What is the role of tension in forces?

Tension is the force transmitted through a rope, cable, or string when it is pulled tight.

How does electrostatic force work?

Electrostatic force acts between charged particles, attracting or repelling them depending on the type of charge.

What is magnetic force?

Magnetic force is the force exerted by magnets on other magnets or magnetic materials.

What happens to an object when the force acting on it is zero?

If the net force is zero, the object will either stay at rest or continue to move with constant velocity (Newton’s First Law).

What are the types of non-contact forces?

Gravitational, electrostatic, and magnetic forces are all non-contact forces.

How can we observe non-contact forces in action?

Examples include the Earth's gravitational pull on a dropped object or the attraction between charged objects.

What is the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces?

Balanced forces result in no change in motion, while unbalanced forces cause an object to accelerate or decelerate

How does friction affect motion?

Friction opposes the motion of an object, causing it to slow down or stop.

What is a field in physics?

A field is a region of space where a force can be experienced by an object. For example, the gravitational field around Earth.

How can we measure contact forces?

Contact forces can be measured using spring scales or force sensors.