Which of the following describes an act that causes someone to fear imminent physical harm?

The act that causes someone to fear imminent physical harm is defined as assault. In California law, assault is characterized as an intentional attempt or threat to inflict harmful or offensive contact upon another person, which results in that person having a reasonable apprehension of imminent physical harm. This means that the mindset of the perpetrator, along with the victim's perception of the threat, is crucial—there does not need to be physical contact for an assault to occur.

For example, if someone raises a fist and threatens to hit another person but does not actually make contact, this can be classified as an assault because it instills a fear of immediate harm in the victim. In contrast, battery necessitates that actual physical contact occurs, while robbery involves taking property from someone through force or fear. Kidnapping pertains to unlawfully abducting a person against their will, which is a different legal concept. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the definition of assault as stemming from the fear of imminent harm rather than the actual infliction of it.