Thermal energy is the energy associated with.. electric fields. being stored in chemical bonds. the pull of gravity. temperature. @aaronq,

Thermal energy is the internal energy that is stored within the system. It is also called internal energy and implies that it is the form of energy that is transferable within systems. Thermal energy can be create from different variety of actions which may include drag or even friction which generates heat and thus energy. Every transfer of heat generates a delta temperature that can easily be pointed as thermal energy and thus it plays to ensure the conservation of energy.