A passive pen for interaction with a touch screen, wherein the passive pen includes a housing, a conductive section, a fixed conductive z-direction mounting section coupled to the conductive section, a moveable conductive z-direction mounting section, a variable capacitor positioned between the fixed conductive z-direction mounting section and the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section, and a conductive tip coupled to the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section. When the user is in contact with the conductive section, a capacitive connection is established between the conductive section and the user's body. The variable capacitor has a compressive property. Pressure on the conductive tip creates a z-direction force operable to move the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section in the z-direction. Movement of the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section compresses the variable capacitor against the fixed conductive z-direction mounting section. When the variable capacitor is compressed, capacitance of the variable capacitor changes.