Question

Gravitational force is a _ _ _ _ _ force.
A. Contact
B. Non-contact
C. Magnetic
D. electrostatic

Answer 1

Hint:To solve this problem we must have knowledge about gravitational force. We should know what gravitational force is and what its properties are. For hint, gravitational force is a force of attraction between any two bodies.

Complete answer:
Let us understand what a gravitational force is. A gravitational force is a force that comes into play when there are two or more bodies nearby. The law of gravity says that every object in the universe exerts a force of attraction on another object. And similarly, the other body also exerts a force of attraction of equal magnitude on this body.

Suppose that there are two bodies separated by a distance r. Then body 1 will exert a gravitational force on body 2. Since the gravitational force is an attractive force, the direction of force by 1 on 2 will be towards 1.

Similarly, body 2 exerts an attractive force on 1 whose magnitude is the same as the magnitude of the force exerted on 2. However, the direction of this force is opposite. The gravitational force acts on both the bodies even when the two are not in contact. Therefore, gravitational force is a non-contact force. This means that it is not necessary that the bodies should be in contact for the gravitational force to act.

Hence, the correct option is B.

Note: An example of a contact force is friction. It comes to play only when the bodies are in contact and there is a relative motion between them.Magnetic force is force exerted on a magnet or a current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field. Electrostatic force is a force that acts between any two charged bodies. It is similar to the gravitational force.Magnetic force and electrostatic force are also non-contact forces.