Final answer:
Potential energy represents the energy that an object can release in the future. It is the stored energy based on an object's position or arrangement, such as gravitational potential energy. Mechanical energy is the sum of an object's potential and kinetic energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of energy that an object can release in the future is referred to as potential energy. Potential energy is stored energy that is dependent on an object's position or arrangement. For example, a ball at the top of a hill has gravitational potential energy due to its position in a gravitational field, which can be released as kinetic energy when the ball rolls down the hill. In contrast, kinetic energy is associated with the movement of an object. Thermal energy is related to the temperature of an object and the motion of its particles, whereas mechanical energy is the sum of an object's potential and kinetic energy.
When considering concepts like the Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy, which states that the total mechanical energy of an isolated system remains constant if there are no dissipative forces like friction or air resistance, we can infer how potential energy transitions into kinetic energy. The unit for measuring energy in these contexts is the joule (J). Therefore, potential energy best represents the energy that can be released by an object in the future. Examples include a stretched spring (elastic potential energy), a battery (chemical potential energy), and an object held high above the ground (gravitational potential energy).