Which of the following is a characteristic of thermal energy?

Thermal energy is fundamentally related to the temperature of a substance. It is the internal energy contained within a system due to the microscopic motions of its particles (atoms and molecules). When the temperature of an object increases, the particles move more vigorously, resulting in greater thermal energy. Thus, recognizing thermal energy as energy due to temperature captures its essence, focusing on how temperature variations reflect the energy levels of particles within a material.

While energy in position, energy in motion, and stored energy all pertain to different forms of energy—potential energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy held within a system, respectively—these concepts do not accurately describe the specific nature of thermal energy, which is intrinsically linked to temperature and the random motion of particles within an object. Therefore, the correct characterization of thermal energy as energy due to temperature is clear and directly relates to its fundamental definition in the context of thermodynamics and energy transfer.