Which term best describes the energy stored in an object due to its position?

The term that best describes the energy stored in an object due to its position is potential energy. This energy is related to the gravitational force acting on the object; for instance, an object held at a height possesses potential energy because of its elevated position relative to the ground. The higher the object is, the greater its potential energy. This form of energy can be converted to kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion, when the object is allowed to fall or move.

Kinetic energy refers to the energy an object has due to its motion, while thermal energy is associated with the temperature of an object and the motion of its particles. Mechanical energy encompasses both kinetic and potential energy, but it does not specify the energy stored exclusively due to position. Therefore, potential energy is the most precise term for energy that is dependent solely on an object's position within a gravitational field.