What is the capacity of a body to do work referred to as?

The capacity of a body to do work is referred to as energy. Energy is defined as the ability to perform work, and it exists in various forms, such as kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, and more. When a system can apply a force over a distance, it is said to have energy, allowing it to perform work.

In physics, work is done when a force causes movement in the direction of the force. If a body possesses energy, it can exert force and cause displacement, which is precisely what work entails. Thus, energy is a fundamental concept in both mechanical and thermodynamic systems, playing a crucial role in the principles of power engineering.

While power does relate to the rate of doing work and force is a component of work, they do not directly characterize the capacity to perform work. Mass, on the other hand, refers to the amount of matter in an object and does not directly relate to work or energy as a capacity to do work itself.