Contact & Non-Contact Forces Simplified Revision Notes for GCSE Edexcel Physics

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5.1.2 Contact & Non-Contact Forces

Force

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A force is a push or pull that acts on an object due to interaction with another object. All forces have both magnitude and direction (vector quantity). Measured in Newtons.

Contact Forces

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Forces where the two objects are physically touching.

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Examples:

Tension in a rope during tug of war.
Friction.
Air resistance in a skydiver:
As the skydiver falls, air particles collide with the parachute.
This causes the force of air resistance to act upwards.

Normal Contact Force

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Can only happen when two objects are in direct contact.

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Example:

Lamp on a table:
The lamp is exerting a downward force on the table which is its weight.
At the same time, the table is exerting an upward force on the lamp called the normal contact force.

Non-Contact Forces

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Forces where the two objects are physically separated.

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Examples:

Gravitational force:
Attracts all objects to other objects (e.g., the ISS to Earth and the Earth to the ISS).
Electrostatic force:
The force between two charged objects.
Oppositely charged = electrostatic force of attraction.
Same charge = electrostatic force of repulsion.
Magnetic force:
The force experienced by certain objects in a magnetic field.

Object Interaction

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:

Non-Contact Forces

The objects are physically separated.
- Electrostatic:
- The charges cause a force of attraction/repulsion.
- Gravitational Attraction:
- The mass creates a force of attraction.

Contact Forces

The objects are physically touching.
- Normal Contact Force:
- Felt in the opposite direction to contact.
- The force is normal to the planes of contact.
- Friction:
- The surfaces and their roughness cause friction when moved in contact.

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