Which term describes the property that enables an object to perform work or cause motion?

Study for the 2026 End of Year Science Vocabulary Competition. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term describes the property that enables an object to perform work or cause motion?

Explanation:
Energy is the capacity to do work or cause motion. It explains why something can move or change: different forms of energy can be transformed to perform work, such as chemical energy in food becoming kinetic energy to move muscles, or a stretched spring releasing energy to move an object. Temperature relates to how hot something is, reflecting particle energy but not describing the ability to do work on its own. Force is the push or pull that can start or change motion, but work is done only when that force acts with a displacement, transferring energy to produce motion.

Energy is the capacity to do work or cause motion. It explains why something can move or change: different forms of energy can be transformed to perform work, such as chemical energy in food becoming kinetic energy to move muscles, or a stretched spring releasing energy to move an object. Temperature relates to how hot something is, reflecting particle energy but not describing the ability to do work on its own. Force is the push or pull that can start or change motion, but work is done only when that force acts with a displacement, transferring energy to produce motion.

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