What is the term for the capacity to do work or cause change?

Energy is defined as the capacity to do work or cause change. In various forms, energy can be found throughout biological systems and the environment, influencing everything from molecular interactions to ecosystem dynamics. When organisms carry out metabolic processes, for example, they use energy to drive reactions that are essential for maintaining life.

The other options you presented are related concepts but do not fit the definition of work capacity. Force refers to an influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, direction, or shape, but it does not represent the ability to do work on its own. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and does not involve energy directly. Power relates to how quickly work is done or energy is transferred but does not represent the capacity for work itself. Thus, energy is the correct term that captures the essence of doing work or causing changes within various contexts.