AQA · GCSE · Combined Science
Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018
Examples of non-contact forces are gravitational force, electrostatic…
Full specification wording
Contact and non-contact forces: Examples of non-contact forces are gravitational force, electrostatic force and magnetic force.
A non-contact force acts between objects that are not touching, because it acts at a distance through a field.
Checked against the AQA 8464 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 7
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
A non-contact force acts between objects that are not touching, because it acts at a distance through a field. Gravitational force attracts any two masses; the Earth pulls a falling ball downwards even before it lands. Electrostatic force acts between electric charges: like charges repel and opposite charges attract, as when a charged balloon attracts small paper pieces. Magnetic force acts between magnetic poles or between a magnet and a magnetic material; like poles repel and opposite poles attract. To classify a force, ask whether the objects must touch. If they can interact while separated, the force is non-contact. Field strength decreases with distance, so the force weakens as separation increases.
What earns the marks
- States that a non-contact force acts between objects that are not touching.
- Describes gravitational force as an attraction between masses, such as the Earth pulling an object downwards.
- Describes electrostatic force as acting between electric charges, with like charges repelling and opposite charges attracting.
- Describes magnetic force as acting between magnetic poles or between a magnet and a magnetic material.
- Explains that non-contact forces act at a distance through a field and weaken as separation increases.
- Classifies each named example as non-contact and gives a situation where the objects are separated.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming that gravitational force needs air to act.
Put it right by noting that gravity acts through a vacuum, as between the Earth and the Moon.
Saying that electrostatic force acts only between opposite charges.
Put it right by stating that like charges repel and opposite charges attract.
Confusing magnetic and electrostatic forces.
Put it right by linking magnetic force to poles or magnetic materials and electrostatic force to electric charges.
Exam tips
- State the two objects or fields involved and confirm that they are not touching.
- Use repel and attract correctly for both electrostatic and magnetic examples.
- Mention that the force decreases as the distance between the objects increases.
Try the lesson
The start of the Contact and non-contact forces: Examples of non-contact forces are gravitational force, electrostatic force and magnetic force. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of these is a non-contact force?
Listen
A non-contact force acts between objects that are not touching, because it acts at a distance through a field. Gravitational force attracts any two masses; the Earth pulls a falling ball downwards even before it lands. Electrostatic force acts between electric charges: like charges repel and opposite charges attract, as when a charged balloon attracts small paper pieces. Magnetic force acts between magnetic poles or between a magnet and a magnetic material; like poles repel and opposite poles attract. To classify a force, ask whether the objects must touch. If they can interact while separated, the force is non-contact. Field strength decreases with distance, so the force weakens as separation increases. A strong answer earns marks for these points. States that a non-contact force acts between objects that are not touching. Describes gravitational force as an attraction between masses, such as the Earth pulling an object downwards. Describes electrostatic force as acting between electric charges, with like charges repelling and opposite charges attracting. Describes magnetic force as acting between magnetic poles or between a magnet and a magnetic material. A common slip: Claiming that gravitational force needs air to act. Instead, noting that gravity acts through a vacuum, as between the Earth and the Moon. Exam tip: State the two objects or fields involved and confirm that they are not touching.
See it
Key words
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Action at a distance
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Attraction and repulsion
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Gravity, electrostatics and magnetism
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See every definition
- Action at a distance
- A non-contact force acts between objects that are not touching, because it acts at a distance through a field.
- Attraction and repulsion
- Like charges repel and opposite charges attract, and like poles repel and opposite poles attract.
- Gravity, electrostatics and magnetism
- Gravitational force attracts any two masses, electrostatic force acts between electric charges, and magnetic force acts between magnetic poles or between a magnet and a magnetic material.
Label the diagram
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