Final answer:
Non-contact forces are known as field forces because they operate through fields that exist in the space around objects, exerting force without direct physical contact. Option D is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-contact forces are called field forces because they are associated with the properties of a surrounding space, or fields, where they operate without the necessity of physical contact between objects. This type of force depends on the presence of a force field in the region of space surrounding the body.
For example, all objects on Earth are within the gravitational field of Earth, which is a function of Earth's mass and the distance from its center. Similarly, electric fields are produced by stationary electric charges, and both stationary and moving electric charges can produce magnetic fields. Other forces such as the strong nuclear and weak nuclear forces also operate in fields, although their effects are predominantly at the subatomic scale.
A field force, also known as a non-contact force, does not require physical contact between objects. Instead, it acts through the presence of a field in the surrounding space. The field itself is a property of space that carries the force from one object to another.
Examples of field forces include gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear, and weak fields. For instance, the gravitational field surrounding the Earth produces the force of gravity that affects objects without direct physical contact.