What is the term for the measure of the ability to do work?

The term that describes the measure of the ability to do work is energy. Energy is defined as the capacity to perform work, and it exists in various forms, such as kinetic, potential, thermal, and chemical energy. In physics, work is defined as the process of energy transfer that occurs when a force is applied over a distance. Therefore, without energy, work cannot be accomplished, making energy the fundamental concept when discussing the ability to do work.

Power, on the other hand, refers to the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred over time, rather than a measure of ability itself. Force is a vector quantity that causes an object to accelerate and is related to the mass of the object and its acceleration. Work, while a result of the application of energy, is a specific action that occurs when a force moves an object a certain distance. Thus, the correct choice that encapsulates the ability to do work is energy.