What does interaction means?

[manimaran1605]

Main Question or Discussion Point

when we say two masses or charges or particles interacts with each other, we have used the word interacts, what does that mean, does that mean a physical contact or something of that kind?

 

[dextercioby]

It needn't be a contact. Interaction is a word for 'influence'.

 

[UltrafastPED]

For example, there is a force between them - gravitational, electric, magnetic, etc.

 

[mikeph]

You and me are interacting and you could be in China for all I know. There just needs to be a two-way dependency for there to be an interaction, no requirement that the dependency is based on contact.

Contact itself is a slippery notion.