What distinguishes battery from assault?

Battery is defined as the intentional and unlawful physical contact with another person, resulting in harm or offensive touching. This legal definition underscores the necessity of actual physical contact to constitute battery. For example, if one individual punches another, that act qualifies as battery because it involves direct physical interaction resulting in harm.

In contrast, assault refers to the act of creating a reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact in another person, without the need for such contact to occur. Essentially, assault can be understood as the threat or attempt to inflict harm. Therefore, while physical contact is a critical element of battery, assault revolves around the mental state of the victim and their perception of a threat, even if no physical act has yet taken place.

Thus, the requirement of physical contact is what clearly sets battery apart from assault. The other options do not accurately reflect the distinct definitions and elements required to establish either assault or battery in legal terms.