What are Non-contact Forces?
Non-contact force is a type of force that acts on the object, without any physical contact with it, the most familiar type of non-contact force is gravity which confers with the weight. In comparison to the contact forces, only there are a few non-contact forces. Some of the examples of non-contact forces are:
Gravitational force
Magnetic force
Electrostatics
The nuclear force - (there are two types of strong and weak nuclear force).
This page will help us understand the types of non-contact forces with examples.
Examples of Non-Contact Forces - Explanation
Gravitational Force
This type of force is responsible for bringing the items that are tossed back to the air. When any object is at rest on the surface, it exerts a downward force that is equal to its weight and this downward force is known as the gravitational force.
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Gravitational force is a type of attractive force that exists between all bodies having the mass, gravitational force of the sun keeps the sun and all the other planets of the solar system in a fixed orbit. Gravitation force is not required to be contacted to excerpt its downward force.
There are many advantages of non-contact gravitational force, it is a kind of constant force that keeps things in place. Gravity keeps our muscles and bones up and working, and it allows the earth to retain its atmosphere. And gravity is able to store some energy as potential energy, it allows it to harness, its example is a water dam.
Electrostatic Force
This force is very similar to the gravitational force, the main difference here is gravitational force acts between masses, and an electrostatic force acts between the two charged bodies.
This force can be generated by rubbing the comb on your clothes and then holding it near tiny pieces of paper, you can observe bits of paper standing on their end attracted to the comb. Everything is made of tiny positive, negative and neutral particles, the opposite charges attract each other and the like charges repel, this is the result of the electrostatic forces.
Magnetic Force
Consider, if you push the ends of the magnet together the second magnet will bounce off, this is the result of the magnetic force. It is also responsible for the attraction of iron by the force of magnets. The magnetic force of the magnet goes on decreasing with an increase in the distance of the magnets.
The different sorts of attraction in magnetism are as follows:
Diamagnetism
Ferromagnetism
Paramagnetism
Antiferromagnetism
Electromagnetism
Nuclear Force - Strong and Weak Force
The nuclear force is one of the strongest forces in nature. The nuclear forces are further subdivided into weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force. Let us understand these in detail.
Strong Nuclear Force
It is a short-distance force, which takes place between the fundamental particles within the nucleus. A strong nuclear force is charge independent and acts equally between a proton and a proton, and a neutron and a neutron, and a proton and a neutron, the strong nuclear force is the strongest force in nature. Because its range is small, strong nuclear force mediates both nuclear fission and fusion reactions.
Weak Nuclear Force
This force mediates the beta decay of a neutron, in which the neutron decays into a proton. And in this process, it emits a beta particle and an uncharged particle called the neutrino. It plays an important key role in the supernova, both the strong and weak forces form an important part of quantum mechanics.
Examples of Non-contact Forces
Various Non-Contact Force examples from our daily life are provided below.
An apple falling down from a tree is one of the best examples of the gravitational force, which was observed by Newton.
Iron pins get attracted to the magnet bar without any physical contact, due to the magnetic force.
The falling of raindrops on earth is also an example of non-contact force, which acts due to the gravitational force.
The charging of the hair and attraction of paper bits towards it you would have observed generally is due to the electrostatics.
When two magnets are placed close to each other is also an example of non-contact forces.
The ball falling freely in the virtue of gravity towards the earth is due to the gravitational force.
Even leaves falling from the tree is an example of a non-contact force.
Electromagnetism is another example of a non-contact force.
You can see various examples of electrostatics, which shows the attraction of small material towards an object.
When an electric current is passed through iron converting it into an electromagnet, it attracts iron and particles towards it, thus, displaying non-contact force properties.
Difference Between Contact and Non-Contact Forces
FAQs on Non - Contact Force
1. What is a non-contact force in Physics?
A non-contact force is a push or a pull that acts on an object without coming into direct physical contact with it. These forces operate over a distance, exerting their influence through an invisible area known as a field.
2. What are the main types of non-contact forces?
The primary types of non-contact forces studied in the CBSE syllabus are:
- Gravitational Force: The force of attraction that exists between any two objects with mass.
- Magnetic Force: The force of attraction or repulsion exerted by magnets on magnetic materials or other magnets.
- Electrostatic Force: The force that exists between electrically charged bodies.
At a more advanced level, there are also the Strong and Weak Nuclear Forces that act within atoms.
3. Can you give some common examples of non-contact forces from daily life?
Certainly. Here are a few real-world examples of non-contact forces in action:
- A fruit falling from a tree to the ground due to the Earth's gravitational force.
- A compass needle aligning itself with the Earth's north-south direction because of the Earth's magnetic force.
- A plastic comb, after being rubbed through dry hair, attracting tiny pieces of paper due to electrostatic force.
- Two magnets repelling each other when their like poles are brought close together.
4. How is a non-contact force different from a contact force?
The main difference lies in the requirement for physical touch. A contact force, such as friction or muscular force, only acts when two objects are in direct contact. In contrast, a non-contact force, like gravity, can influence an object from a distance without any physical connection between the interacting objects.
5. Why is gravity considered a non-contact force?
Gravity is classified as a non-contact force because it acts over vast distances without requiring objects to touch. For example, the Earth exerts a gravitational pull on a satellite orbiting miles above its surface. This force is transmitted through a gravitational field, which is why objects fall to the ground even when they start from a height.
6. How does a magnet exert a non-contact force?
A magnet generates an invisible area of influence around it called a magnetic field. When a magnetic material like an iron nail enters this field, the magnetic force acts upon it, pulling it towards the magnet. This force is transmitted through the field, which is why the magnet can attract the nail from a distance without any physical contact.
7. Do non-contact forces get weaker with distance?
Yes, this is a fundamental characteristic of non-contact forces. The strength of gravitational, magnetic, and electrostatic forces decreases as the distance between the interacting objects increases. This is why a magnet's pull is strong up close but diminishes quickly as you move it away from an object.
8. What is electrostatic force and why is it a non-contact force?
Electrostatic force is the force of attraction or repulsion between objects that have an electric charge. It is a non-contact force because a charged object can attract or repel another object from a distance. For instance, a balloon rubbed on wool becomes charged and can make a person's hair stand up without touching it, acting through an electric field.
9. Does a non-contact force require a medium like air or water to work?
No, non-contact forces do not need a physical medium to be effective. They operate through their respective fields (e.g., gravitational field, magnetic field), which can exist even in a vacuum. This is a key reason why the Sun's gravity can hold the Earth in orbit through the vast emptiness of space.
