 Action at a distance

An interaction described between spatially separated bodies without specifying a local contact mechanism. A successful mathematical force law and an account of its physical mediator are distinct explanatory achievements.^[ref]

Action at a distance is a concept in physics that describes the interaction between objects that are not in physical contact with each other. Instead of requiring a mediating force, it suggests that one object can exert an influence or force on another object over a distance. This idea has been a topic of debate, particularly in classical physics. Historically, the notion was most famously associated with Newton's law of gravitation, where gravity acts between two masses regardless of the distance separating them.