In general, the concept of energy refers to "the potential for causing changes." The word is used in several different contexts. The scientific use has a precise, well-defined meaning, whilst the many non-scientific uses often do not. (See here.)
In physics, energy is mathematically defined as a work done by a certain force (gravitational, electric, magnetic, force of inertia, etc) and usually taken with a negative sign. Due to variety of forces, energy has many different forms (usually called after specific force involved): gravitational (potential), kinetic, electromagnetic, magnetic etc. According to the above definition, energy has the same units as work; a force applied through a distance. The SI unit of energy, the joule, equals one newton applied through one meter, for example.
Etymology
The etymology of the term is from Greek ενέργεια, εν- means "in" and έργον means "work"; the -ια suffix forms an abstract noun. The compound εν-εργεια in Epic Greek meant "divine action" or "magical operation"; it is later used by Aristotle in a meaning of "activity, operation" or "vigour", and by Diodorus Siculus for "force of an engine."
能量是物理學中描寫一個系統或一個過程的一個量。一個系統的能量可以被定義為從一個被定義的零能量的狀態轉換為該系統現狀的功的總和。一個系統到底有多少能量在物理中並不是一個確定的值，它隨着對這個系統的描寫而變換。
舉一個例子而言，我們觀察一個質量為1kg的固體的能量：
假如我們在研究經典力學而只對它的動能感興趣的話，那麼它的能量就是我們要將它從靜止加速到它現有速度所加的功的總和。
假如我們在研究熱學而只對它的內能感興趣的話，那麼它的能量就是我們要將它從絕對零度加熱到它現有溫度所加的功的總和。
假如我們在研究物理化學而只對它所含有的化學能感興趣的話，那麼它的能量就是我們在合成這個固體時對它的原料加入的功的總和。
假如我們在研究原子物理而只對它所含的原子能感興趣的話，那麼它的能量就是我們從原子能為零的狀態對它做功、使它達到現在狀態的功的總和。
當然我們也可以用反過來的方法來定義這個固體所含的能量，舉兩個例子：
該固體的內能是將它冷卻到絕對零度所釋放出來的功的總和。
該固體的原子能是將它所含的所有的原子能全部釋放出來的功的總和。
從http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy#Etymology和http://hk.knowledge.yahoo.com/question/?qid=7006100303130轉載
