What kind of energy does motionless water possess?

Motionless water possesses potential energy, which is the energy that is stored in an object due to its position or state. In the case of water, when it is at a certain height, such as in a reservoir or above ground level, it has the potential to do work if it flows downward due to gravity. This stored energy is a result of its position relative to the ground or other objects, making it a prime example of gravitational potential energy.

Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy of motion, which would not apply to water that is still. Thermal energy refers to the energy that comes from the temperature of a substance, associated with the movement of its atoms or molecules, but does not pertain to the potential energy due to position. Nuclear energy involves changes to the nucleus of an atom, which is not relevant to the energy state of motionless water. Thus, identifying motionless water as having potential energy accurately reflects its capacity to do work based on its position rather than any movement.