AQA GCSE FOUNDATION PHYSICS - Contact and Non-Contact Forces

AQA GCSE Foundation Physics: Contact and Non-Contact Forces

This tutorial will explore the fundamental concepts of contact and non-contact forces, including examples like friction, gravity, and magnetism.

1. Forces: What Are They?

• A force is a push or pull that can change an object's motion.
• Forces can make an object start moving, stop moving, change direction, or change speed.

2. Contact Forces

• Contact forces occur when two objects touch each other.
• Examples:
  • Friction: This force opposes motion between surfaces in contact.
    • Types of Friction:
      • Static friction: Prevents objects from moving when at rest.
      • Sliding friction: Opposes motion when surfaces slide past each other.
      • Rolling friction: Opposes motion when an object rolls on a surface.
    • Factors Affecting Friction:
      • Surface roughness: Rougher surfaces have higher friction.
      • Force pressing surfaces together: Greater force leads to greater friction.
  • Normal Force: The force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it. It acts perpendicular to the surface.
  • Air Resistance: This force opposes motion through the air. It increases with speed.
  • Applied Force: A force applied directly to an object.

3. Non-Contact Forces

• Non-contact forces act on an object without physical contact.
• Examples:
  • Gravity: The force of attraction between any two objects with mass.
    • The greater the mass of the objects, the stronger the gravitational force.
    • The closer the objects are, the stronger the gravitational force.
  • Magnetic Force: The force of attraction or repulsion between magnets or magnetic materials.
    • Types of poles:
      • North pole: Repels another North pole, attracts a South pole.
      • South pole: Attracts a North pole, repels another South pole.
  • Electrostatic Force: The force of attraction or repulsion between charged objects.
    • Like charges repel: Positively charged objects repel each other. Negatively charged objects repel each other.
    • Opposite charges attract: Positively charged objects attract negatively charged objects.

4. Key Takeaways

• Forces are essential to understanding how objects move and interact.
• Contact forces require direct contact between objects, while non-contact forces act at a distance.
• Understanding the different types of forces helps us explain everyday phenomena like friction, gravity, and magnetism.

Remember: Continue practicing and applying these concepts to solidify your understanding of contact and non-contact forces in AQA GCSE Foundation Physics.