Final answer:
The correct answer to the student's question is kinetic energy, which is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. Potential energy is related to position, not motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy associated with motion of a body or bodies is called kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is a form of energy associated with the motion of a particle, single body, or system of objects moving together. Objects that are moving, regardless of their size or speed, possess kinetic energy. Examples include a speeding bullet, a walking person, and the rapid movement of molecules in the air. On the other hand, potential energy is often referred to as stored energy and it is related to the position of an object in a field, such as gravity. Whereas kinetic energy is directly correlated to motion, potential energy represents the potential a body must perform work due to its position or state.