130 Science Words That Start With P (With Meanings & Examples)

Introduction

Science grows from language, and words carry the power to explain how the world works. When you learn science words that start with P, you begin to understand how physics, biology, chemistry, and even astronomy connect with everyday life. Words like protein, pressure, or planet are not just terms in a textbook; they are keys that unlock ideas in experiments, theories, and discoveries. Students often meet these terms in school from grade four onwards, and the list keeps expanding as knowledge grows.

This guide explores 130 science words with P across different subjects and levels. You will see their meanings, examples, and even connections to real life. Understanding them will not only help in exams but also in developing clear scientific thinking. To make things easier, the terms are divided into grade levels and subject areas, so you can see the progress from simple words to advanced science vocabulary.

Physics Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Power	Rate at which work is done	The motor uses power to lift the load.
Pressure	Force applied per unit area	Air pressure changes with altitude.
Pendulum	Weight swinging under gravity	A clock uses a pendulum to keep time.
Potential Energy	Stored energy due to position	A rock on a hill has potential energy.
Photon	Particle of light	A photon travels at the speed of light.
Projectile	Object thrown into the air	A ball acts as a projectile.
Plasma	State of matter with charged particles	The sun is made of plasma.
Polarization	Alignment of light waves	Sunglasses reduce glare by polarization.
Pulse	Sudden wave or burst of energy	A laser sends out a light pulse.
Path	Line followed by a moving object	The planet follows an orbital path.

Chemistry Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Polymer	Large molecule made of repeating units	Plastic is a common polymer.
pH Scale	Measure of acidity or alkalinity	Lemon juice has a low pH.
Precipitate	Solid formed in a reaction	Salt may precipitate from solution.
Proton	Positive particle in atom’s nucleus	A hydrogen atom has one proton.
Periodic Table	Chart of chemical elements	Oxygen is in the periodic table.
Phosphate	Salt with phosphorus	DNA contains phosphate groups.
Photochemistry	Study of chemical effects of light	Photochemistry explains photosynthesis.
Pyrolysis	Chemical breakdown by heat	Plastic can break down by pyrolysis.
Propane	Hydrocarbon gas used for fuel	Propane is used in cooking gas.
Pentane	Hydrocarbon with five carbon atoms	Pentane is used as a solvent.

Biology Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Photosynthesis	Plants make food using sunlight	Plants release oxygen through photosynthesis.
Protein	Essential nutrient in living cells	Protein builds muscles in the body.
Pathogen	Organism that causes disease	Bacteria can act as a pathogen.
Phylum	Grouping of organisms in biology	Insects belong to the phylum Arthropoda.
Pancreas	Organ that controls blood sugar	The pancreas produces insulin.
Pituitary Gland	Master gland controlling hormones	Growth hormone comes from the pituitary gland.
Pulse	Beating of blood in arteries	Doctors check pulse for heart rate.
Plant	Living organism that makes food	A rose is a flowering plant.
Pollination	Transfer of pollen for reproduction	Bees help in pollination of flowers.
Photosystem	Protein complex in plants	Photosystem captures light for photosynthesis.

Earth Science Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Plate Tectonics	Theory of moving earth plates	Plate tectonics cause earthquakes.
Precipitation	Rain, snow, sleet, or hail	Precipitation falls during a storm.
Peninsula	Land surrounded by water on three sides	Florida is a peninsula.
Permafrost	Permanently frozen ground	Siberia has large areas of permafrost.
Peat	Decayed plant matter in soil	Farmers use peat for gardening.
Pyroclastic Flow	Fast-moving volcanic material	Pyroclastic flow destroyed the town.
Pangaea	Ancient supercontinent	Pangaea broke into today’s continents.
Paleontology	Study of fossils	Paleontology reveals dinosaur history.
Petroleum	Natural fuel from earth	Petroleum powers vehicles.
Porosity	Space in rocks holding water	Sandstone has high porosity.

Astronomy Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Planet	Body orbiting a star	Earth is a planet.
Protostar	Early stage of a star	A protostar forms before a star.
Pulsar	Spinning neutron star emitting beams	Astronomers study pulsars.
Parallax	Apparent shift in star’s position	Parallax helps measure star distance.
Planetary Nebula	Cloud around dying star	The sun will form a planetary nebula.
Perihelion	Closest point of planet to sun	Earth reaches perihelion in January.
Photosphere	Visible surface of the sun	Sunspots appear in the photosphere.
Plutoid	Dwarf planet beyond Neptune	Pluto is a plutoid.
Proxima Centauri	Nearest star to the sun	Proxima Centauri is four light years away.
Polaris	North Star	Polaris helps in navigation.

Medical Science Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Pancreas	Organ producing insulin	Diabetes affects the pancreas.
Pulse	Heartbeat felt in arteries	Doctors measure pulse for health.
Pituitary Gland	Hormone-controlling gland	Pituitary gland affects growth.
Pathogen	Disease-causing agent	Viruses are pathogens.
Platelet	Blood cell that clots wounds	Platelets stop bleeding.
Plasma	Liquid part of blood	Plasma carries nutrients.
Prognosis	Expected outcome of disease	Doctors gave a good prognosis.
Prescription	Medicine order by doctor	The prescription lists antibiotics.
Pathology	Study of disease	Pathology identifies illness.
Physiology	Study of body functions	Physiology explains breathing.

Technology and General Science Words With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Prototype	First model of a device	Engineers built a prototype.
Programming	Writing instructions for computers	Coding is a form of programming.
Processor	Brain of a computer	The processor runs software.
Pixel	Smallest unit of a digital image	The photo has millions of pixels.
Password	Code for security	Password protect accounts.
Parallel Circuit	Circuit with multiple paths	Homes use parallel circuits.
Photovoltaic Cell	Device converting light to energy	Solar panels use photovoltaic cells.
Propeller	Rotating blade for movement	Ships move with a propeller.
Precision	Exactness of measurement	Precision is important in labs.
Process	Series of actions to achieve result	The water cycle is a natural process.

Environmental Science Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Pollution	Introduction of harmful substances into nature	Factories cause air pollution.
Preservation	Protecting natural resources	Forest preservation saves wildlife.
Population	Number of organisms in an area	The deer population increased this year.
Photosphere Energy	Solar energy reaching earth	Solar panels capture photosphere energy.
Plant Ecology	Study of plants and their environment	Plant ecology explains forest growth.
Primary Consumer	Animal that eats plants	A cow is a primary consumer.
Producers	Organisms that make their own food	Plants are producers in ecosystems.
Phytoplankton	Tiny ocean plants	Whales feed on phytoplankton.
Pollution Control	Methods to reduce pollution	Cars with filters help pollution control.
Predator	Animal that hunts others	A lion is a predator.

Geography Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Plateau	Elevated flat landform	Tibet is the highest plateau.
Peninsula	Land almost surrounded by water	India is a peninsula.
Province	Administrative region of land	Canada has many provinces.
Precipitation	Rainfall or snow on earth	Precipitation forms rivers.
Population Density	Number of people in a given area	Cities have high population density.
Political Map	Map showing boundaries	The political map shows countries.
Physical Map	Map showing land features	A physical map highlights mountains.
Prime Meridian	Line dividing east and west hemispheres	Greenwich is on the prime meridian.
Pole	End point of earth’s axis	The North Pole is icy.
Pacific Ocean	Largest ocean on earth	The Pacific Ocean is deep.

Engineering Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Pressure Gauge	Device that measures pressure	A tire uses a pressure gauge.
Pipeline	Tube for carrying liquids or gas	Oil moves through a pipeline.
Piston	Moving part in engines	Pistons power car engines.
Pulley	Wheel with rope to lift objects	Workers use a pulley to lift heavy blocks.
Propulsion	Force that moves objects forward	Rockets use propulsion to fly.
Plasticity	Ability of material to be shaped	Clay shows plasticity.
Prototype	First test version of a design	The prototype failed initial tests.
Powertrain	System that moves vehicles	Electric cars use a different powertrain.
Pressure Vessel	Container holding gases under pressure	Boilers are pressure vessels.
Precision Engineering	Making very accurate parts	Watches require precision engineering.

Psychology and Social Science Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Perception	Way we understand sensory input	Perception changes with mood.
Personality	Traits that define behavior	He has a kind personality.
Pavlovian	Learning through association	Dogs salivate in Pavlovian experiments.
Prejudice	Negative opinion without reason	Science studies prejudice in society.
Peer Review	Process of experts checking research	Journals require peer review.
Placebo	Fake treatment in studies	Patients improved with a placebo.
Punishment	Consequence for wrong action	Psychology studies punishment and reward.
Problem-Solving	Process of finding solutions	Students practice problem-solving in science.
Psychometrics	Study of measuring intelligence	IQ tests belong to psychometrics.
Prognosis	Prediction of outcome	Prognosis helps doctors guide patients.

Computer Science Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Programming	Writing code for computers	Students learn programming in class.
Protocol	Rules for communication between devices	The Internet uses protocols like HTTP.
Processor	Brain of the computer	The processor runs all tasks.
Packet	Small unit of data transfer	The email was sent in packets.
Platform	Environment where software runs	Windows is a software platform.
Pixel	Smallest unit of an image	A screen has millions of pixels.
Password	Secret code for access	Password protects online accounts.
Parallel Processing	Doing multiple tasks at once	Supercomputers use parallel processing.
Port	Connection point for devices	A USB port connects a mouse.
Program	Set of coded instructions	Word is a computer program.

General Scientific Method Words That Start With P

Word	Meaning	Example
Prediction	Guess based on evidence	The scientist made a prediction.
Process	Steps taken to reach a result	The experiment followed a process.
Problem	Question to solve in research	The problem was unclear data.
Property	Characteristic of matter	Mass is a property of matter.
Precision	Exact measurement in experiments	Precision is vital in results.
Pattern	Repeated arrangement or trend	Rainfall showed a yearly pattern.
Procedure	Step-by-step way to do something	The lab had a procedure to follow.
Peer Review	Evaluation by other experts	Studies undergo peer review.
Publication	Sharing results with public	Scientists await publication of results.
Proof	Evidence showing something is true	Proof was found for the theory.

Conclusion

The list of scientific words with P and meanings shows just how wide science vocabulary can be. From the plasma state of matter to the pulse in the human body, each word carries value in understanding life, the universe, and experiments. By dividing them into grade levels and subject areas, learners can see clear progress in building their vocabulary. What starts with simple terms like plant and pattern grows into complex ones like protostar or plate tectonics.