Final answer:
Energy can change the position or motion of an object, with kinetic energy being associated with objects in motion. This energy is the ability to cause change and is vital in the concept of work, where work involves moving matter against a force, thus changing an object's energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Energy can cause an object to change its position or its motion. It is the ability to cause change and is a fundamental property of systems, which are assemblages of matter. Energy can cause atoms or molecules to move relative to each other, such as in a chemical reaction, or it can cause an object to change position in a gravitational or electrical field. In terms of an object in motion, the energy associated with it is called kinetic energy, as moving objects are capable of enacting change or doing work.
The concept of work and energy are closely related because when you do work on an object, such as moving it against a force, you are changing the object's energy. This is well illustrated by the work-energy theorem, which establishes the relationship between the work done on an object by an external force and changes in the object's kinetic energy. There are different types of energy; kinetic energy is the energy of motion, while potential energy is energy stored due to an object's position or arrangement. Both types are crucial in understanding the capacity of systems to perform work and cause change.