Force
Forces and Motion | Electricity and Magnetism

Different groups of forces

Physics Narrative for 5-11 11-14 Supporting Physics Teaching

Contact and non-contact forces

The main types of forces that you will meet can be divided into contact and non-contact forces.

Contact forces – the environment can provide support:

  • Compression force (a warp force).
  • Tension force (a warp force).
  • Buoyancy.

Contact forces – reduce, or prevent motion through an environment:

  • Grip.
  • Slip.
  • Drag.

Non-contact forces – allow remote parts of the environment to affect an object:

  • Gravity force.
  • Magnetic force.
  • Electric force.

The space throughout which non-contact forces act is referred to as a field. The field specifies the strength and direction of the non-contact force acting.

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