In basic physics, consider the statement: "The ability to do work is called energy." How should this statement be classified?

Introduction / Context:
Many textbook definitions introduce the concept of energy in simple language to make it accessible to beginners. One such popular definition is that energy is the ability or capacity to do work. This question presents that statement and asks you to decide whether it correctly describes the physical quantity called energy, or whether it should instead be associated with some other quantity such as power, force or momentum.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The statement under consideration is: "The ability to do work is called energy."
• We use standard physics meanings of the words work, energy, power, force and momentum.
• We are looking for a conceptual definition, not a detailed mathematical formula.
• The context is introductory physics and general science education.

Concept / Approach:
Work in physics is defined as the product of force and displacement in the direction of the force. Energy, in simple terms, is the capacity of a system to perform work. Different forms of energy such as kinetic, potential, thermal and chemical can all be transformed into work under suitable conditions. Power, on the other hand, is the rate of doing work, force is a push or pull that can cause acceleration and momentum is mass times velocity. None of these alternate quantities match the simple idea of ability to do work as closely as energy does.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that energy is often introduced as the capacity or ability of a body or system to do work. Step 2: Note that when a system has energy, such as a raised weight or a charged battery, it can perform work on other objects. Step 3: Compare this with power, which is defined as work done per unit time and measures how fast work is done, not simply the ability to do it. Step 4: Force is a vector quantity that can cause a change in motion but does not, by itself, guarantee that work is done unless there is displacement. Step 5: Momentum measures the quantity of motion (mass times velocity) and is conserved in collisions; it is not usually described as the ability to do work. Step 6: Therefore, the statement that the ability to do work is called energy is a correct introductory description of energy.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a stretched spring, a raised mass and a charged battery. All of these can do work when allowed to act: the spring can move a mass, the raised object can fall and drive a machine, and the battery can power a circuit. Each situation illustrates stored energy. When the stored energy is used, work is done. If a body has no energy at all, it cannot do work on other bodies. These examples support the idea that energy is closely linked to the ability to do work.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Incorrect, because it defines power: Power is defined as work done per unit time, not as the capacity to do work.

Incorrect, because it refers to force: Force is a push or pull; without displacement, a force does not necessarily result in work, so it is not simply the ability to do work.

Incorrect, because it should define momentum instead: Momentum is mass times velocity and describes motion, not the capacity to perform work.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up energy and power, using the words interchangeably in everyday language. For example, they may say that a device uses a lot of energy when they really mean it uses power quickly. In physics, however, energy, work and power are distinct but related concepts. Remember that energy and work share the same unit, the joule, while power has the unit watt. Keeping these distinctions clear helps you recognise that the ability to do work is a good conceptual definition of energy, not of power or other quantities.

Final Answer:
The statement is a correct description of the physical quantity energy.