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- A contact force is a force that is applied by objects that are in contact with each other.
- There are six types of contact forces: applied force, frictional force, air resistance force, spring force, tension force, and normal force.
- “Applied force” is the force applied to an object by another object.
- The most common example of applied force is pushing a car.
- Frictional force occurs when two surfaces are pressed closely together; a common example is walking on a road.
- Air resistance acts on objects while they travel through the air; an example is a skydiver diving in the sky.
- Spring force is the force exerted by a stretched spring on an object attached to it.
- Tension force is the force transmitted through a rope or a string when it is pulled by forces acting from opposite sides.
- Normal force is the force that is felt when a surface pushes against an object that is placed on that surface.
- The example of normal force is when a person leans against a wall and the wall pushes horizontally on the person.