What type of energy is associated with an object's position?

Potential energy is the type of energy that is related to an object's position or configuration. It is the energy stored in an object due to its position relative to other objects, gravitational force, or elastic force. For instance, an object elevated above the ground has gravitational potential energy because it has the potential to fall under the influence of gravity. Similarly, a compressed spring or a stretched rubber band has potential energy due to its deformation.

In contrast, kinetic energy is the energy of motion, so it directly depends on the velocity of an object rather than its position. Thermal energy is related to the temperature of an object and the motion of atoms and molecules within it, while chemical energy pertains to the energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds. Therefore, potential energy is uniquely defined by an object's position, making it the correct choice in this case.