Which statement describes non-contact forces?

• A. Forces that occur only on Earth.
• B. Forces that require physical contact.
• C. Forces that act at a distance without physical contact, such as gravity and magnetism.
• D. Forces that do not affect motion.

Answer: (C)

Non-contact forces are forces that can act on an object without touching it, via fields that extend through space. Gravity pulls on masses at a distance, and magnetism attracts or repels without direct contact, illustrating action at a distance. This contrasts with forces that require physical contact, like friction or the normal force from a surface. So the description of non-contact forces is that they act at a distance without physical contact, such as gravity and magnetism. The other statements don’t fit because these forces are not limited to Earth, they do not require contact, and they can influence motion.