TASC Physical Science Practice Exam

Action-at-a-distance forces are interactions where one object pulls or pushes on another without touching. The key idea is that the force can act across space through a field. For example, Earth’s gravity affects the Moon even though they aren’t in contact, magnets attract or repel across a distance, and charges exert electric forces without touching. Because of this, they exert force without direct contact, which is why that statement is the best description. The other ideas don’t fit: these forces can act over distances, they don’t require contact, and forces do exist even when objects aren’t touching.