What are contacts that retain their state after a force is removed called?

Contacts that retain their state after a force is removed are referred to as maintained contacts. This type of contact is designed to stay in its last position until it is purposely changed again. In practical applications, maintained contacts are commonly found in switches that continue to hold their position (either on or off) even after the initiating force is no longer applied.

In contrast, momentary contacts are those that return to their original state once the force is removed. This characteristic makes them suitable for functions that require a temporary change, such as momentary push-button switches. Temporary contacts, while similar in meaning to momentary in some contexts, may not necessarily imply a return to the original state but rather suggest a short-lived function. Fixed contacts typically refer to contacts that are stationary and do not change states; they provide a constant connection rather than a variable one.

Therefore, the correct choice reflects the function and behavior of these maintained contacts, indicating their ability to stay activated even after the activating force is disengaged.