What are contact forces?

In this lesson, we will learn about contact forces. We will discuss air and water resistance and examine what balance and unbalanced forces are. We will also investigate friction. Based on our investigation we will make conclusions about the causes and characteristics of friction.

What are contact forces?

In this lesson, we will learn about contact forces. We will discuss air and water resistance and examine what balance and unbalanced forces are. We will also investigate friction. Based on our investigation we will make conclusions about the causes and characteristics of friction.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Define contact forces
  2. Explain what causes a range of contact forces
  3. Describe ways of changing the size of a frictional force

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

Loading...

4 Questions

Q1.
Where did Isaac Newton live?
Belgium
Correct answer: England
France
United States
Q2.
What do we use to measure mass?
Correct answer: grams
kilometres
liters
Newtons
Q3.
What do we use to measure weight?
grams
kilometres
liters
Correct answer: Newtons
Q4.
What is the hook at the top of a Newton meter used for?
To connect the force or object you are measuring to the Newton meter
Correct answer: To hold the Newton meter
To read the measurement of Newtons

4 Questions

Q1.
Contact forces will only take place if...
There is gravity
There is no air or water resistance
Correct answer: Two or more objects are touching
Q2.
If the forces pushing and pulling an object are the same strength then they are...
Correct answer: Balanced
Contact forces
Non-contact forces
Unbalanced
Q3.
Friction causes...
Air resistance
Correct answer: Heat
Upthrust
Water
Q4.
If a material is very rough, the "bumps" on the surface are...
Correct answer: Larger
Smaller
Softer

Lesson appears in

UnitScience / Forces

Science