Yes, there can be friction or forces acting on objects without any direct contact between them. This phenomenon is known as "non-contact forces" or "action at a distance." It occurs when objects interact with each other through fields or other physical properties that extend through space.
One common example of non-contact forces is gravitational force. Gravity is a force that acts between two objects with mass, even if they are not in direct contact. For example, the gravitational force between the Earth and the Moon keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth.
Another example is electromagnetic force. Charged objects can exert forces on each other without touching. For instance, the repulsion or attraction between two magnets is a non-contact force. Similarly, static electricity, where objects attract or repel each other due to imbalanced charges, is another example of non-contact forces.
Other non-contact forces include magnetic forces, electrical forces, and nuclear forces. These forces can act over a distance without any physical contact between the objects involved.
It's important to note that although the forces act without direct contact, they still require the presence of physical fields or properties that mediate the interaction between the objects. These fields include gravitational fields, electric fields, magnetic fields, and so on.