Which type of energy is associated with the position or height of an object?

Potential energy is the type of energy associated with the position or height of an object. Specifically, gravitational potential energy depends on an object's height relative to a reference point. The higher the object is positioned, the more potential energy it possesses, as it has the capacity to convert this stored energy into kinetic energy when it falls or moves downward.

In the context of physics, potential energy is calculated using the formula ( PE = mgh ), where ( m ) is mass, ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity, and ( h ) is height. This demonstrates the direct relationship between an object's height and its potential energy, clarifying why it is the correct answer to the question regarding energy associated with position or height.

The other forms of energy mentioned do not pertain solely to an object's height. Kinetic energy, for instance, is related to an object's motion. Thermal energy involves the internal energy of a system due to the temperature of its particles, and mechanical energy combines both kinetic and potential energies in a system. Therefore, potential energy uniquely aligns with an object’s height and its positioning in a gravitational field.