Final answer:
Energy is defined as the capacity to do work or cause change, with work being a transfer of energy in the form of a force moving an object over some distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability to do work or cause change is called energy. When we use energy to perform tasks, such as throwing a ball or warming a house, we are actually transferring energy from one object or system to another. This transfer can occur in the form of work or heat. Specifically, work is done when a force causes matter to move against an opposing force. An example of this would be when you inflate a bicycle tire; you are doing work on the tire by moving air into it against the pressure of the air inside the tire.
In the realm of physics, work is quantified as the product of force exerted on an object and the distance the object moves as a result, which is mathematically expressed as W = F x Δx. The work-energy theorem further relates this work to changes in an object’s kinetic energy, supporting the idea that energy is essential for doing work and causing changes.