AQA · GCSE · Physics

    Course version: 8463 · Version from Sept 2016

    A force is a push or pull that acts on an object due to the interaction…

    Full specification wording

    Contact and non-contact forces: A force is a push or pull that acts on an object due to the interaction with another object. All forces between objects are either: contact forces – the objects are physically touching non-contact forces – the objects are physically separated.

    A force is a push or a pull on an object, and it always arises from an interaction with another object.

    Checked against the AQA 8463 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 1 of 5
    • 2 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    A force is a push or a pull on an object, and it always arises from an interaction with another object. Nothing has a force by itself; there is always a second object doing the pushing or pulling. Forces split into two families. Contact forces act only while the two objects are physically touching, so friction, air resistance, tension, upthrust and the normal contact force all belong here. Non-contact forces act through a field while the objects are physically separated, which covers gravitational, electrostatic and magnetic forces. A brick resting on the bottom of a pool shows the idea: its weight acts downwards with no contact, while upthrust from the water and the normal contact force from the floor both act upwards through contact.

    What earns the marks

    • A force being a push or a pull on an object due to its interaction with another object.
    • Contact forces acting only while the objects are physically touching.
    • Non-contact forces acting while the objects are physically separated.
    • Correctly classifying a named force, such as normal contact force as a contact force and weight as non-contact.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying that a moving object 'has force' or 'carries force'.

    • Classifying friction or air resistance as non-contact.

    • Calling upthrust a non-contact force because the water is not solid.

    • Treating gravity as needing contact with the ground.

    • Naming a force without naming the second object involved in the interaction.

    Exam tips

    • Name both objects when describing a force, for example 'the pull of the Earth on the brick'.
    • Ask whether the two objects touch; that single test decides the category every time.
    • In a diagram question, list every force acting before you start drawing, so none is missed.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Contact and non-contact forces: A force is a push or pull that acts on an object due to the interaction with another object. All forces between objects are either: contact forces – the objects are physically touching non-contact forces – the objects are physically separated. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    A swimmer pushes backwards against the water and the water pushes the swimmer forwards. Which statement describes the force on the swimmer?

    Listen

    A force is a push or a pull on an object, and it always arises from an interaction with another object. Nothing has a force by itself; there is always a second object doing the pushing or pulling. Forces split into two families. Contact forces act only while the two objects are physically touching, so friction, air resistance, tension, upthrust and the normal contact force all belong here. Non-contact forces act through a field while the objects are physically separated, which covers gravitational, electrostatic and magnetic forces. A brick resting on the bottom of a pool shows the idea: its weight acts downwards with no contact, while upthrust from the water and the normal contact force from the floor both act upwards through contact. A strong answer earns marks for these points. a force being a push or a pull on an object due to its interaction with another object. contact forces acting only while the objects are physically touching. non-contact forces acting while the objects are physically separated. correctly classifying a named force, such as normal contact force as a contact force and weight as non-contact. Exam tip: Name both objects when describing a force, for example 'the pull of the Earth on the brick'.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The top node states that a force is a push or pull on an object due to interaction with another object. An arrow leads to a decision node asking whether the two objects physically touch. Two arrows leave this node: one to a node labelled contact forces, where the objects are physically touching, and one to a node labelled non-contact forces, where the objects are physically separated. From the contact forces node, five arrows lead to the named forces friction, air resistance, tension, upthrust and normal contact force. From the non-contact forces node, three arrows lead to gravitational force, electrostatic force and magnetic force.
    It shows how a force from an interaction with another object is sorted by whether the objects touch into contact forces and non-contact forces, with the named forces in each family.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    contact forces

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    non-contact forces

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    contact forces
    Forces where the objects are physically touching.
    non-contact forces
    Forces where the objects are physically separated.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The top node states that a force is a push or pull on an object due to interaction with another object. An arrow leads to a decision node asking whether the two objects physically touch. Two arrows leave this node: one to a node labelled contact forces, where the objects are physically touching, and one to a node labelled non-contact forces, where the objects are physically separated. From the contact forces node, five arrows lead to the named forces friction, air resistance, tension, upthrust and normal contact force. From the non-contact forces node, three arrows lead to gravitational force, electrostatic force and magnetic force.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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