What is developed when one body exerts a force on another body without direct physical contact?

The correct choice identifies a concept in physics known as a body force. When one body exerts a force on another without direct physical contact, it means that the force is acting at a distance. This interaction can occur through fields such as gravitational, electromagnetic, or magnetic fields.

Body forces affect the mass of an object as they arise from sources that exert forces over a distance, resulting in effects such as acceleration or deformation. For example, the gravitational force acts on objects regardless of contact, as it pulls objects towards each other based on their masses.

While gravitational force is indeed a type of body force, the term "body force" encompasses a broader category of non-contact forces, making it the most accurate term in this context. Other forces such as surface tension and contact forces require direct contact between bodies, thus not fitting the scenario described in the question.