What is the definition of 'Work' in the context of Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science?

In the context of Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science, 'Work' is defined as the process of energy transfer that occurs when a force is applied to an object, causing it to move. The formula for calculating work is Work = Force x Distance, where the force is applied in the direction of the movement.

How is work calculated in physics, and what are its units?

Work is calculated using the formula Work = Force x Distance. The force must be in the direction of the movement. The unit of work is the joule (J), which is equivalent to one newton-meter (N·m).

What is the relationship between work, energy, and power in the IGCSE Coordinated Science syllabus?

In the IGCSE Coordinated Science syllabus, work, energy, and power are interrelated concepts. Work is the transfer of energy through motion, energy is the capacity to do work, and power is the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred. Power is calculated as Power = Work/Time and is measured in watts (W).

Can work be negative, and if so, what does that mean?

Yes, work can be negative. This occurs when the force applied to an object and the direction of movement are opposite. Negative work indicates that energy is being taken from the object, such as when friction slows down a moving object.

What are some real-life examples of work being done, according to the Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science curriculum?

Real-life examples of work include lifting a book off the ground (where the force is exerted upwards and the book moves upwards), pushing a shopping cart (where the force is exerted in the direction of movement), and compressing a spring (where the force is applied to change the spring's shape). In each case, energy is transferred through the force applied, resulting in movement or deformation.

Why is "Saying work is done by a force perpendicular to motion" a common mistake in Work?

Why it happens: Students apply W = Fd without checking the direction of force relative to displacement. How to avoid it: Only the component of force parallel to displacement does work. W = F × d where is the angle between force and displacement.

Why is "Giving the answer in N instead of J" a common mistake in Work?

Why it happens: Forgetting that work/energy is measured in joules. How to avoid it: Work = force × distance. Units = N × m = J. Always write the unit.

Why is "Forgetting that lifting at constant speed requires force = weight" a common mistake in Work?

Why it happens: Students use an arbitrary force value when the question says 'lifted at constant speed'. How to avoid it: Constant speed → no acceleration → resultant force = 0 → applied force = weight.

Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science (0654)

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Short Notes - Work

Detailed Study Notes

Detailed notes on Work, Energy and Power for Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science, covering key concepts, explanations, examples, and exam-focused revision points.

Work — Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science 0654

In physics, 'work' has a precise meaning: energy transferred when a force moves an object in the direction of the force. Cambridge tests W = Fd, the condition that force and displacement must be in the same direction, and the link to energy transfer.

At a glance

Work done W = Fd. Units: joules (J). 1 J = 1 N m.
Work is only done when a force causes displacement in the direction of the force.
Carrying a suitcase horizontally: NO work done against gravity (force is vertical, motion is horizontal).
Work done against friction = heat energy transferred to surroundings.
Work done = energy transferred to or from an object.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0654 syllabus (2025-2027).

P2.1a — Define work done and use the equation W = Fd.
P2.1b — Understand that energy is transferred when work is done.

Work Done by a Force

W = Fd only when force and displacement are in the same direction.

Work done:

W = F × d

W = work done (J), F = force (N), d = displacement in the direction of force (m)

Key conditions:

The force must cause displacement (or be in the direction of displacement)
If force ⊥ displacement → work done = 0
If force and displacement are at an angle θ: W = Fd cos θ (Extended, if required)

Examples:

Situation	Work done?
Lifting a box vertically	YES — upward force, upward displacement
Pushing a trolley horizontally	YES — horizontal force and motion
Carrying a box horizontally	NO — upward force but horizontal displacement
Stretching a spring	YES — force in direction of extension

Energy connection:

Work done on an object = energy transferred TO that object
Work done by an object = energy transferred FROM that object
Work done against friction = heat energy produced

Example: A person pushes a crate 5 m with a force of 40 N. W = 40 × 5 = 200 J

W = Fd (J = N × m). Force and displacement must be in the same direction.
Carrying horizontally: no work done against gravity.
Work done = energy transferred.

Quick recap

W = Fd (joules). Only counts when force acts in the direction of displacement.
Work done against gravity = gain in gravitational PE. Work done against friction = heat.

Memorise this

Verbatim phrases and definitions Cambridge mark schemes credit.

W = Fd — work (J) = force (N) × distance (m). Both must be in same direction.
1 joule = energy transferred when 1 N moves an object 1 m in the direction of force.

How it’s examined

Paper 4: 'Calculate the work done when a 50 N force moves a box 3 m along a surface' (2 marks — W = 50 × 3 = 150 J). 'A student carries a 20 N bag 10 m horizontally. State the work done against gravity' (1 mark — 0 J; force is vertical but displacement is horizontal). MCQ: choosing scenarios where work IS or IS NOT done.

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Sciences 0654 syllabus 2025-2027 (P2); 0654 Examiner Reports 2022-2024. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Take this whole topic with you

Step-by-step worked examples — Work

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on work, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Work done lifting a box
Core• work done, gravity
Question
A person lifts a box of weight $250\,\text{N}$ vertically upward through $1.8\,\text{m}$ . Calculate the work done against gravity.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  The force applied equals the weight of the box (constant velocity lift). Displacement is in the direction of force.
  $W = Fd = 250 \times 1.8 = 450\,\text{J}$
Answer
$W = 450\,\text{J}$
Examiner tip
Only the component of force parallel to displacement does work. For vertical lifting, the full applied force counts.
2Work done against friction
Extended• work done, friction, energy transfer
Question
A crate is pushed $15\,\text{m}$ along a horizontal floor by a horizontal force of $80\,\text{N}$ . A frictional force of $30\,\text{N}$ opposes the motion. Calculate (a) the work done by the applied force and (b) the work done against friction.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Work done by applied force.
  $W_{\text{applied}} = 80 \times 15 = 1200\,\text{J}$
2. Step 2
  Work done against friction (energy dissipated as thermal energy).
  $W_{\text{friction}} = 30 \times 15 = 450\,\text{J}$
Answer
$W_{\text{applied}} = 1200\,\text{J}$ ; $W_{\text{friction}} = 450\,\text{J}$
Examiner tip
The difference ( $750\,\text{J}$ ) goes into the kinetic energy of the crate if it accelerates.
3Work and the inclined plane
Challenge• inclined plane, work done, component of force
Question
A force of $200\,\text{N}$ is applied at $30°$ above the horizontal to move a trolley $5.0\,\text{m}$ along a horizontal surface. Calculate the work done by this force.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Only the horizontal component of the force does work along the horizontal displacement.
  $F_{\text{horizontal}} = 200 \cos 30° = 200 \times 0.866 = 173\,\text{N}$
2. Step 2
  Work done.
  $W = F_{\text{horizontal}} \times d = 173 \times 5.0 = 865\,\text{J}$
Answer
$W \approx 865\,\text{J}$
Examiner tip
In Extended questions, always resolve the force into the component parallel to the displacement before applying $W = Fd$ .

Key Formulae — Work

The formulae you need to memorise for work on the Cambridge IGCSE 0654 paper, with every variable defined in plain English and a note on when to use it.

Work done
$W = Fd$
$W$
work done (J)
$F$
force parallel to displacement (N)
$d$
displacement (m)
When to use
When force and displacement are in the same direction (or when the parallel component of force is known).
Example
$W = 80\,\text{N} \times 15\,\text{m} = 1200\,\text{J}$

Key Definitions and Keywords — Work

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for work answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0654 sitting.

Work done
Examiner keyword
Work is done when a force causes a displacement in the direction of the force. $W = Fd$ ; SI unit: joule (J), where $1\,\text{J} = 1\,\text{N}\,\text{m}$ .
Joule
The SI unit of energy and work. One joule is the work done when a force of one newton moves its point of application one metre in the direction of the force.
No work done
Work is zero when the force is perpendicular to the displacement (e.g., centripetal force on a circular orbit) or when there is no displacement.
Example
A satellite orbiting Earth at constant speed: centripetal force does no work.
Energy transfer
Examiner keyword
Work done is equivalent to energy transferred. When positive work is done on an object, energy is transferred to it.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Work

The traps other students keep falling into on work questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0654 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Saying work is done by a force perpendicular to motion
Why it happens
Students apply $W = Fd$ without checking the direction of force relative to displacement.
How to avoid it
Only the component of force parallel to displacement does work. $W = F\cos\theta \times d$ where $\theta$ is the angle between force and displacement.
✕Giving the answer in N instead of J
Why it happens
Forgetting that work/energy is measured in joules.
How to avoid it
Work = force $\times$ distance. Units = N $\times$ m = J. Always write the unit.
✕Forgetting that lifting at constant speed requires force = weight
Why it happens
Students use an arbitrary force value when the question says 'lifted at constant speed'.
How to avoid it
Constant speed → no acceleration → resultant force = 0 → applied force = weight.

Work — frequently asked questions

The things students keep getting wrong in this sub-topic, answered.

Situation

Work done?

Lifting a box vertically

YES — upward force, upward displacement

Pushing a trolley horizontally

YES — horizontal force and motion

Carrying a box horizontally

NO — upward force but horizontal displacement

Stretching a spring

YES — force in direction of extension

Work

Short Notes - Work

Detailed Study Notes

At a glance

What you’ll learn

Work Done by a Force

Quick recap

Memorise this

How it’s examined

Take this whole topic with you

1Work done lifting a box

2Work done against friction

3Work and the inclined plane

Work done

Work done

Joule

No work done

Energy transfer

✕Saying work is done by a force perpendicular to motion

✕Giving the answer in N instead of J

✕Forgetting that lifting at constant speed requires force = weight

Work — frequently asked questions

Work

Short Notes - Work

Detailed Study Notes

At a glance

What you’ll learn

Work Done by a Force

Quick recap

Memorise this

How it’s examined

Take this whole topic with you

1Work done lifting a box

2Work done against friction

3Work and the inclined plane

Work done

Work done

Joule

No work done

Energy transfer

✕Saying work is done by a force perpendicular to motion

✕Giving the answer in N instead of J

✕Forgetting that lifting at constant speed requires force = weight

Work — frequently asked questions