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Even in a frictionless world, objects can still come into contact with each other due to forces other than friction. Friction is just one of many forces that can act on objects, but it is not the only force that causes objects to touch each other. Here are a few reasons why objects may touch each other in the absence of friction:

  1. Normal Force: When objects are in contact, there is usually a normal force acting between them. The normal force is the force exerted perpendicular to the surface of contact. It arises due to the electromagnetic interactions between the atoms or molecules of the two objects. This force prevents objects from passing through each other and provides support.

  2. Gravity: Gravity is a force that attracts objects toward each other. In the absence of friction, objects can touch or come into contact due to the force of gravity. For example, if you drop an object, gravity pulls it downward, causing it to touch the ground or any other surface it encounters.

  3. Electromagnetic Forces: Objects consist of atoms or molecules that contain charged particles, such as electrons and protons. Electromagnetic forces can cause objects to come into contact with each other. At the atomic level, repulsive or attractive electromagnetic forces can lead to objects touching or interacting with each other.

  4. External Forces: Objects can also be brought into contact by external forces applied to them. For example, if you push or apply a force to one object, it can collide or come into contact with another object. These external forces can overcome any friction or other resistive forces and cause objects to touch each other.

It's important to note that friction plays a significant role in our daily lives and interactions between objects. While friction can be absent in certain scenarios, forces such as gravity, normal force, and electromagnetic forces ensure that objects still touch or interact with each other.

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