Contact Forces
Definition
Contact forces are types of external forces that occur when two objects physically touch each other and interact through direct contact.
Analogy
Think about pushing a shopping cart at a grocery store. The push you apply to move the cart represents contact forces because your hand directly touches and interacts with the cart to make it move.
Related terms
Normal Force: The normal force is a contact force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it.
Tension Force: Tension force is a contact force that occurs when an object is being pulled or stretched by another object through direct contact.
Applied Force: An applied force is a contact force exerted on an object by another object or person.
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