Contact & Non-Contact Forces
Notice that some forces need contact between two objects (contact forces) while magnetic forces can act at a distance (non-contact forces)
Typical age: 7–8 years
“Can your child explain why you have to touch a ball to kick it, but a magnet can pull a paperclip without touching it?”
0 / 3 mastered
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Needs first
- Forces VocabularyREQUIRED
Distinguishing contact from non-contact forces requires these exact terms
- Drawing Force Diagrams
Distinguishing contact and non-contact forces is clarified by drawing force diagrams showing where arrows originate
- Friction & SurfacesREQUIRED
Must experience contact forces like friction before distinguishing contact vs non-contact forces
Unlocks next
- Magnetic MaterialsREQUIRED
Must know about non-contact forces before investigating magnetic attraction/repulsion
- Resultant ForcesREQUIRED
KS3 resultant force and balanced forces extends KS2 distinction between contact and non-contact forces
- Gravity & Falling ObjectsREQUIRED
Must know about non-contact forces before learning gravity as a non-contact force