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There are two main categories of forces: contact forces and non-contact forces.

contact force is a push or pull that is exerted when two or more objects are physically touching. There are several types of contact forces.

  • An applied force, where a person or object is pushed or pulled by another object, is one type of contact force. 
  • Friction, which is a force exerted on a moving object and opposes the motion of that object, is a contact force.
  • When a contact force acts perpendicular to an object, it is called a normal force.  A normal force holds a book on a table.

Of these types of forces, the normal force might be the least familiar to you, but it is everywhere. When you sit on a chair, the chair is holding you up with normal force. Your computer is being held there by the normal force exerted by the table. If you lean against a wall, the wall exerts a normal force on you. If you are building something and are holding a piece of wood in place, you are exerting a normal force on the wood. Your building partner might be exerting an applied force on the nail with a hammer.

Friction is the force that slows a ball down as it rolls across the gymnasium floor.

An applied force is the force of you pushing a door open.

Contact Forces

What is a contact force?

A force that is exerted when two or more objects are physically touching.

Woman pushing stroller

Drag the actions onto the correct forces present in the picture above.

The baby sitting in the stroller

the woman pushing
on the ground

the woman pushing the stroller

The stroller wheels
against the ground
Applied

Friction

Contact

Applied