What is kinetic energy best described as?

Kinetic energy is best described as energy in motion. This form of energy is associated with the movement of an object; the faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it possesses. For example, when a fluid flows through piping in an HVAC system, the particles in the fluid are in motion, contributing to the kinetic energy of that fluid. Understanding kinetic energy is essential, especially in HVAC applications, where the movement of air or refrigerants plays a crucial role in heat exchange processes.

In contrast, stored energy refers to potential energy, which is energy due to an object's position or configuration, such as water stored in a reservoir. Thermal energy pertains to the energy related to the temperature of a substance and is associated with the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules, but it is not the same as kinetic energy itself.