Contact & Non-Contact Forces

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Forces & Motion|Ages 7—8|ID: mt_lcf8lx-LkZ

Notice that some forces need contact between two objects (contact forces) while magnetic forces can act at a distance (non-contact forces)

Mastery Evidence

Define contact forces as those needing objects to touch (e.g. push, pull, friction)
Define non-contact forces as those acting at a distance (e.g. magnetism)
Sort examples of forces into contact and non-contact categories

“Can [child] explain why you have to touch a ball to kick it, but a magnet can pull a paperclip without touching it?”

Y3.Sci.FM.2The national curriculum in England

Contact and non-contact forces

notice that some forces need contact between 2 objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance

Science · Key Stage 2

Show full prerequisite tree

Forces Vocabulary hard
Distinguishing contact from non-contact forces requires these exact terms
Drawing Force Diagrams soft
Distinguishing contact and non-contact forces is clarified by drawing force diagrams showing where arrows originate
Friction & Surfaces hard
Must experience contact forces like friction before distinguishing contact vs non-contact forces
- Pushes & Pulls hard
  Must understand forces change motion before comparing movement on different surfaces
  - Drawing Force Diagrams soft
    Understanding pushes and pulls as forces is supported by the arrow representation of magnitude and direction
- Forces Vocabulary hard
  Comparing how things move on different surfaces requires friction vocabulary