Contact and non-contact forces - AQANon-contact forces
Forces are responsible for all the interactions between particles and objects. They can be divided into two categories: contact forces and non-contact forces.
Non-contact forces are forceA push or a pull. The unit of force is the newton (N). that act between two objects that are not physically touching each other. Examples of non-contact forces include:
Magnetic force
A magnetic force is experienced by any magneticAble to be magnetised or attracted to a magnet. material in a magnetic fieldArea surrounding a magnet that can exert a force on magnetic materials..
Opposite magnetic poles (N - S or S - N) attractObjects that tend to move together because of a force between them attract each other. each other:
Like magnetic poles (N - N or S - S) repelObjects that tend to push apart because of a force between them repel each other. each other:
Electrostatic force
An electrostatic forceA force of attraction between particles with opposite charges. is experienced by any charged particlesParticles, usually ions or electrons, that carry electrical charges. in an electric fieldArea surrounding an electric charge that may influence other charged particles..
Opposite charges (+ and -) attract:
Like charges (- and -, or + and +) repel:
Gravitational force
A gravitational force is experienced by any massThe amount of matter an object contains. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g). in a gravitational field.
Masses are attracted towards each other by gravitational force: