Summary:
This work investigates the ways of reasoning of a diverse population, as much for their country of origin as for their teaching level, in situations where the Newton's 3rd law intervenes in the study of the dry solid friction phenomenon. By means of the analyses of several questionnaires describing physical situations where two or three bodies are in contact, the characteristics of these ways of reasoning will stand out. Still, an analysis of text books shows that the students find elements, in the great majority of these books, which back up the type of results found. As a consequence of the amount of the results obtained, some recommendations on the treatment of the friction will be suggested specifically regarding the aspects approached in the work.
Keywords:
physics education; friction; Newton's 3th law.