What is energy defined as?

Energy is defined as the capacity or ability to do work, making this explanation crucial for understanding the concept. In physics, work involves the transfer or transformation of energy, so when we say that energy is the capacity to do work, we are acknowledging its fundamental role in various physical processes. For instance, when a force acts upon an object to move it, energy is required to perform that action. This definition encompasses different forms of energy, including kinetic, potential, thermal, and chemical energies, all of which can be converted from one form to another while enabling work to be done.

Understanding energy in this way is essential for grasping principles such as the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but only transformed. This concept has broad implications in physical science, affecting how energy is used in machines, biological systems, and the environment.