GCSE Physics Revision — Contact & Non-Contact Forces
Revise Contact & Non-Contact Forces for GCSE Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Contact & Non-Contact Forces?
A force is a push or a pull that can cause an object to accelerate, change shape, or change direction. Forces can be categorised as either contact forces or non-contact forces. Contact forces act when objects are physically touching (e.g., friction, air resistance, tension). Non-contact forces can act at a distance without the objects touching (e.g., gravity, electrostatic force, magnetic force).
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). Being able to identify and name forces is a key skill.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A book is resting on a table. Identify the main contact and non-contact forces acting on it. Solution: The main non-contact force is the Earth's gravitational pull acting downwards (its weight). The main contact force is the normal reaction force from the table pushing upwards on the book, preventing it from falling through.
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Common mistakes
- 1Forgetting that forces always come in pairs (Newton's Third Law). For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
- 2Incorrectly identifying a force as contact or non-contact. For example, thinking that the magnetic force requires the magnets to be touching.
- 3Thinking that an object with no net force on it must be stationary. It could be moving at a constant velocity (Newton's First Law).
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Frequently asked questions
What is a non-contact force?
A non-contact force is a force that acts on an object without coming physically in contact with it. Examples include gravity, magnetism, and electrostatic forces.
Is friction a contact or non-contact force?
Friction is a contact force. It arises when two surfaces rub against each other, opposing motion.