What type of energy is associated with the motion of an object?

Kinetic energy is the form of energy that is directly associated with the motion of an object. It is defined by the formula ( KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 ), where ( m ) is the mass of the object and ( v ) is its velocity. The greater the mass or speed of the moving object, the more kinetic energy it possesses.

This concept differentiates kinetic energy from other forms of energy, such as potential energy, which is the stored energy based on an object's position or configuration. Thermal energy refers to the internal energy present in a system due to its temperature and the motion of its molecules, whereas mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic and potential energy present in an object, encompassing both movements and positional energies. Therefore, kinetic energy specifically highlights the energy resulting from motion, making it the correct choice.