Contact and Non-Contact Forces — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 4th Grade forces & motion worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet4th Grade · Science · Forces & MotionContact and Non-Contact Forces — Answers
Part A: Touching or not?
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
A force is a push or a pull. Some forces only work when objects touch. These are contact forces. Kicking, throwing, squeezing and friction are contact forces.
Other forces can act from a distance, without touching. These are non-contact forces.
Gravity pulls everything towards the Earth. Magnetism lets magnets attract (pull) or repel (push) other magnets and attract things made of iron or steel. Static electricity happens when some objects are rubbed together: a rubbed balloon can attract your hair or bits of paper.
Non-contact forces usually get weaker as objects move further apart.
- Akicking a ball
- Bfriction on a slide
- Ca magnet pulling a paperclip from a distance
- Dpushing a door
Answer: a magnet pulling a paperclip from a distance
The magnet pulls the paperclip without touching it, so magnetism is a non-contact force.
- Agravity pulling an apple down
- Bfriction slowing a sliding book
- Ca magnet repelling another magnet
- Da charged balloon lifting hair
Answer: friction slowing a sliding book
Friction only acts when the book and table touch.
- Afriction
- Bmagnetism
- Cgravity
- Dair resistance
Answer: gravity
Gravity pulls objects towards the Earth without touching them.
- Astatic electricity
- Bgravity
- Cfriction
- Da push
Answer: static electricity
Rubbing gives the balloon an electric charge, which attracts the paper without touching it.
- Aall metals
- Bsome metals, such as iron and steel
- Cwood and plastic
- Dglass
Answer: some metals, such as iron and steel
Magnets attract iron, steel, nickel and cobalt, but not metals like aluminum, copper or gold.
Part B: Sort the forces
- a fridge magnet holding up a note
- hitting a ball with a bat
- a skydiver falling towards the ground
- brakes slowing a bike
- non-contact
- contact
- non-contact
- contact
Answer: a fridge magnet holding up a note → non-contact; hitting a ball with a bat → contact; a skydiver falling towards the ground → non-contact; brakes slowing a bike → contact
Answer: non-contact
Answer: repel
Answer: Aluminum is not a magnetic metal. Magnets only attract a few metals, such as iron and steel.
Part C: True or false?
Write True or False.
Answer: False
Gravity acts from a distance; it pulls on a falling ball, a bird and even the Moon.
Answer: True
Friction happens where two surfaces rub against each other.
Answer: False
Magnets attract iron, steel, nickel and cobalt only.
Answer: True
Non-contact forces weaken with distance.
Part D: Working scientifically: magnet strength
Use Kai's results to answer.
Kai put a paperclip at the end of a ruler and slid a magnet slowly towards it. He recorded the distance when the paperclip jumped to the magnet.
Magnet A: 3 cm. Magnet B: 6 cm. Magnet C: 2 cm.
Answer: The furthest distance at which the magnet can pull the paperclip.
Answer: Magnet B, because it pulled the paperclip from the furthest away (6 cm).
Model answer: He must use the same paperclip and the same ruler and table each time. If he changed them, he would not know whether the result was because of the magnet or because of something else.
Success criteria:
- Names two controlled variables
- Explains that only the magnet should change for a fair test
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
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