Which term refers to the ability to perform work?

The term that refers to the ability to perform work is energy. Energy is a fundamental concept in physics that represents the capacity to cause change or perform work. It exists in various forms, such as kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, and chemical energy, among others. When energy is transferred or converted from one form to another, it can be used to perform work, which is defined in physics as the application of a force over a distance.

Power, while related, specifically refers to the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, not the ability itself. Force is the interaction that can change the motion of an object but does not directly indicate the ability to perform work without the context of energy. Motion describes the change in an object's position over time and is a result of work being done, not a measure of the ability to do work itself. Thus, energy is the accurate term for the ability to perform work.