What term describes the energy associated with motion?

The term that describes the energy associated with motion is kinetic. Kinetic energy is defined as the energy that an object possesses due to its movement. The amount of kinetic energy an object has depends on its mass and velocity; specifically, it is calculated using the formula ( \frac{1}{2} mv^2 ), where ( m ) is mass and ( v ) is velocity.

In contrast, inertia refers to an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion, rather than the energy of that motion. Thermal energy relates to the internal energy of a system due to the temperature and the movement of its molecules, not to its motion as a whole. Potential energy, on the other hand, is the energy stored in an object due to its position or condition, which is different from the energy of a moving object. Thus, kinetic is the correct term when discussing energy associated with motion.