Forces as the result of interactions between bodies: work proposal for the Physics classroom

Abstract

The force concept is one of the basic concepts around which Classical Mechanics is developed. In teaching and learning processes, the so–called Free Body Diagrams (FBD) are used as a visual representation tool for interactions. From both the analysis of relevant theoretical frameworks and the results of research in science education, the importance of the use of multiple representations to help students to understand concepts and solve problematic situations arises, especially the recognition of the concept of force as a result of an interaction using the so–called Interaction Diagrams (ID) as a pre–step to a proper construction of FBDs.
In this work, in order to achieve an adequate conceptualization of the forces acting upon a system, we present a didactic strategy based on problem solving activities of examples designed involving multiplicity of objects, their dispositions and states of motion. In the solving process we recommend the use of IDs.