What is the meaning of interaction in science?

[manimaran1605]

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.