3.2.2

Contact Forces

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Contact and Non-Contact Forces

There are two types of forces: contact and non-contact.

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Contact forces

  • Contact forces are examples of forces that need to be in contact with each other for objects to be able to move. Examples include:
    • Friction - a force between two surfaces that rub together.
    • Air resistance - a type of frictional force that slows objects as they fall.
    • Tension - a force that acts through a cable, wire or string.
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Non-contact forces

  • Non-contact forces are examples of forces that do not need to be in contact with each other for each of the objects to be able to move.
    • Magnetic forces - a magnetic force can be felt through magnets even if they are not touching.
    • Gravitational forces - gravity attracts objects when they are not touching, such as when you drop a pen and it falls to the Earth.
    • Static electricity - a force that acts between two charged objects.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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