5.1.2

Contact & Non-Contact Forces

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Contact & Non-Contact Forces

Forces can happen by contact between two things. Forces can also happen when there is no contact.

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Contact forces

  • When you push a rubber across a table, the force is from the contact between your hand and the rubber.
    • This is a force caused by contact between you and the rubber.
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Non-contact forces

  • Magnets have a force that does NOT need direct contact.
  • Magnets are made from a metal called iron.
  • The force created by a magnet is 'magnetism'.
    • Magnetism is a magnetic force.
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Using magnetic forces

  • Magnets can push or pull each other.
  • Magnets can push or pull other objects.
  • Magnets can push or pull without touching.
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Magnetic materials

  • Some materials can be pushed or pulled by magnets.
    • Materials that can be pushed or pulled by magnets are called magnetic.
  • Some materials cannot be pushed or pulled by magnets.
    • Materials that cannot be pushed or pulled by magnets are called non-magnetic.

Jump to other topics

1Year 3: Plants

2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

3Year 3: Rocks

3.1Rocks on Earth

4Year 3: Light

5Year 3: Forces & Magnets

6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

8Year 4: States of Matter

9Year 4: Sound

10Year 4: Electricity

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