What is the energy called that an object possesses due to its movement or change in position?

The energy that an object possesses due to its movement or change in position is known as kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is directly related to the motion of an object and is mathematically defined as half the mass of the object multiplied by the square of its velocity. Essentially, any moving object, whether it's a rolling ball, a speeding car, or a flowing river, possesses kinetic energy.

Mechanical energy, while it encompasses both kinetic and potential energy in a system, does not specifically refer solely to the energy due to motion. Chemical energy pertains to the energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, and thermal energy relates to the energy of an object due to the motion of its particles, which is different from the straightforward energy of movement associated with kinetic energy. Therefore, the most accurate term for energy due to movement or positional change is kinetic energy.