The ability to cause change (to do work) is called what?

• A. Energy
• B. Power
• C. Kinetic energy
• D. Momentum

Answer: (A)

Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. Work is done when a force moves something over a distance, and energy is what supplies that capacity to move or change a situation. There are many forms of energy—kinetic energy from motion, potential energy from position, chemical, electrical, and more—and energy can change from one form to another while the ability to produce work remains. Power, by contrast, is the rate at which work is done, not the overall capacity to do work. Kinetic energy is just one specific form of energy tied to motion, and momentum is a measure of motion that relates to collisions but does not represent the general ability to cause work.