Science Words That Start With P – Physics, Chemistry, Biology & More

Prepare to plunge into the powerful world of science words that start with P! From photosynthesis, the process that fuels life on Earth, to protons, the particles that form the core of every atom, the letter “P” opens the door to some of the most pivotal and profound concepts in science. Acting as a portal to physics, paleontology, planetary science, and beyond, “P” terms provide a pathway to explore the principles, processes, and phenomena that shape our universe. Whether it’s unlocking the mysteries of plasma, tracing the evolutionary story through phylogeny, or grasping the behavior of photons, these words invite us to understand the mechanisms that govern both life and matter.

Science Words With P for Students

• Plant – A living thing that grows in soil and makes its own food. 
• Paper – A material made from trees, used for writing and experiments. 
• Pan – A container often used in science labs for heating. 
• Pen – A tool used to write notes during science study. 
• Pond – A small body of water where plants and animals live. 
• Parts – Different pieces that make up a whole thing. 
• Pull – A force that brings something closer. 
• Push – A force that moves something away. 
• Path – The way or track something moves. 
• Plan – A step-by-step idea before doing an experiment. 
• Picture – A drawing or image that explains something. 
• Point – A small spot or exact place. 
• Power – The ability to do work or make something move. 
• Pipe – A tube that carries liquids or gases. 
• Planet – A large round object in space that orbits a star.

Physics Science Words That Start With P 

• Photon – A particle of light. 
• Plasma – A state of matter made of charged particles. 
• Pressure – The force applied per unit area. 
• Potential Energy – Stored energy due to position. 
• Power – The rate at which work is done. 
• Pendulum – A swinging weight that shows periodic motion. 
• Parallel Circuit – A type of circuit where current splits into branches.
• Proton – A positively charged particle in an atom’s nucleus. 
• Pulse – A short burst of energy or wave. 
• Polarization – Orientation of light waves in specific directions. 
• Projectile – An object thrown into the air with force. 
• Principle of Inertia – Objects resist change in motion. 
• Photovoltaic Cell – A device that converts sunlight into electricity. 
• Propagation – The way waves travel through a medium. 
• Plank’s Constant – A fundamental value in quantum physics.

Chemistry Science Words That Start With P 

• pH – A measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. 
• Polymer – A large molecule made of repeating units. 
• Precipitate – A solid that forms when two liquids react. 
• Protein – A large molecule made of amino acids. 
• Proton – A positively charged particle in atoms. 
• Periodic Table – A chart of chemical elements. 
• Phosphate – A chemical group important in biology and chemistry. 
• Plutonium – A heavy radioactive element. 
• Potassium – A soft, reactive metal element. 
• Peptide – A short chain of amino acids. 
• Polyatomic Ion – An ion made of two or more atoms. 
• Photochemistry – The study of chemical reactions involving light. 
• Precursor – A substance that comes before another in a reaction. 
• Phase – A physical state of matter (solid, liquid, gas). 
• Polyatomic Molecule – A molecule made up of multiple atoms.

Biology Science Words That Start With P

• Photosynthesis – The process plants use to make food from sunlight. 
• Phloem – Plant tissue that carries food. 
• Plasma (Blood) – The liquid part of blood. 
• Protist – A simple organism that isn’t plant, animal, or fungus. 
• Population – A group of the same species living in an area. 
• Pollen – Tiny grains that help plants reproduce. 
• Parasite – An organism that lives on another and harms it. 
• Predator – An animal that hunts other animals. 
• Prey – An animal that is hunted by predators. 
• Phenotype – The physical traits of an organism. 
• Phylogeny – The evolutionary history of organisms. 
• Plasmid – A small DNA ring found in bacteria. 
• Protozoa – Microscopic single-celled organisms. 
• Pancreas – An organ that helps with digestion and blood sugar control. 
• Pathogen – A microorganism that causes disease.

Scientific Words Starting With P 

Word	Meaning
Physics	The study of matter, energy, and forces.
Planetary Science	The study of planets and their systems.
Prediction	A guess made based on scientific evidence.
Process	A series of steps that lead to a result.
Principle	A basic law or rule in science.
Particle	A very small piece of matter.
Pollution	Harmful substances in the environment.
Precipitation	Rain, snow, or hail falling from the sky.
Precision	The exactness of a measurement.
Prototype	The first model of a scientific design.
Photosphere	The visible surface of the sun.
Plankton	Tiny organisms floating in water.
Planetarium	A place to study and watch stars and planets.
Prediction Model	A tool used to forecast outcomes.
Pathway	A series of actions or reactions in science.

Math Science Words That Start With P 

• Parallel Lines – Lines that never meet and stay the same distance apart. 
• Perimeter – The distance around a shape. 
• Polygon – A flat shape with straight sides. 
• Parabola – A U-shaped curve formed by quadratic equations. 
• Prime Number – A number divisible only by 1 and itself. 
• Product – The answer when two numbers are multiplied. 
• Probability – The chance that something will happen. 
• Percent – A number expressed as parts per hundred. 
• Pi (π) – A special number (~3.14159) used for circles. 
• Polynomial – An expression with many terms. 
• Permutation – An arrangement of objects in order. 
• Power – A number multiplied by itself a certain number of times. 
• Plane – A flat surface that extends infinitely. 
• Pythagoras Theorem – A² + B² = C² for right triangles. 
• Proportion – A statement that two ratios are equal.

Earth Science Words Starting With P

• Plate Tectonics – Theory explaining Earth’s moving crustal plates. 
• Pangaea – The ancient supercontinent. 
• Precipitation – Rain, snow, sleet, or hail falling to Earth. 
• Porosity – The amount of empty space in rocks/soil. 
• Peat – Partly decayed plant matter found in wetlands. 
• Pyroclastic Flow – Hot gas and volcanic rock flowing quickly. 
• Permafrost – Ground that remains frozen year-round. 
• Phreatic Eruption – Volcanic explosion caused by steam. 
• Planetary Geology – Study of rocks and landscapes on planets. 
• Paleontology – Study of fossils and ancient life. 
• Plume – A rising column of magma or hot rock. 
• Polarity – Earth’s magnetic north and south switching. 
• Phenocryst – Large crystal inside volcanic rock. 
• Pyroxene – A common rock-forming mineral. 
• Pumice – Light volcanic rock full of air bubbles.

Technology and Engineering Words That Start With P 

• Processor – The brain of a computer that performs calculations. 
• Program – A set of coded instructions for a machine. 
• Protocol – Rules for communication between devices. 
• Prototype – The first working model of a design. 
• Platform – A base system for software or hardware. 
• Password – A secret code to access information. 
• Pixel – The smallest unit of a digital image. 
• Power Supply – A device that provides electricity. 
• Printed Circuit Board (PCB) – A board connecting electronic parts. 
• Processor Core – The individual unit inside a CPU. 
• Peripheral – External device like a printer or keyboard. 
• Pipeline – A system of steps in data processing. 
• Project Management – Planning and controlling engineering tasks. 
• Polymers – Materials used in plastics and engineering. 
• Parallel Computing – Using multiple processors at once.

Forensic Science Words With P

• Pathology – Study of disease and cause of death. 
• Postmortem – Examination of a body after death. 
• Psychology – Study of the human mind in investigations. 
• Prints (Fingerprints) – Unique patterns on fingers used for ID. 
• Physical Evidence – Tangible items collected from crime scenes. 
• Poison – A harmful substance that can cause death. 
• Profile (DNA Profile) – Unique genetic code used for identification. 
• Paternity Test – DNA test to confirm fatherhood. 
• Photography (Forensic) – Taking evidence pictures at crime scenes. 
• Preservation – Protecting evidence from damage. 
• Psychiatry (Forensic) – Mental health studies in law and crime. 
• Polygraph – Lie detector test. 
• Projectile – Bullet or object fired from a weapon. 
• Pattern Analysis – Studying shapes like blood spatter or shoe prints. 
• Pharmacology (Forensic) – Study of drugs and poisons in the body.

General Science Words That Start With P 

Word	Meaning
Planet	A large body in space that orbits a star.
Proton	A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Photosynthesis	The process by which plants make food using sunlight.
Pressure	The force applied over a surface area.
Pollution	The presence of harmful substances in the environment.
Precipitation	Water falling from the sky as rain, snow, or hail.
Plasma	A state of matter made of charged particles, found in stars and lightning.
Protein	A nutrient made of amino acids, essential for living things.
Phylum	A large group in the classification of living organisms.
Phenomenon	An observable event or occurrence in science.
Pathogen	A microorganism that causes disease.
Population	A group of organisms of the same species living in one area.
Power	The rate at which energy is used or work is done.
Principle	A basic law or rule that explains how something works.
Process	A series of actions or steps taken to achieve a scientific result.

Tips for Learning Science Words That Starting With P 

• Play with Prefixes and Patterns
  Many science words starting with “P” share prefixes like photo- (light), phyto- (plant), or proto– (first). Recognizing these patterns helps you guess meanings even if you haven’t seen the word before. 
• Picture It with Visual Aids
  Create flashcards or doodles. For example, draw a leaf under the sun for photosynthesis, or sketch an atom with a “+” symbol for proton. Images make tricky terms memorable. 
• Practice with Real-Life Connections
  Link words to things around you:
  Pressure → air in a balloon.
  Pollen → dust from flowers.
  Plasma → seen in a neon sign.
  These connections make abstract terms easier to understand. 
• Pair Words with Examples in Sentences
  Instead of memorizing alone, write sentences: “A predator hunts its prey.” “The perimeter of the park is 400 meters.” This builds context and strengthens memory. 
• Play Science Games with ‘P’ Words
  Turn learning into fun with crossword puzzles, word searches, or even a “Pick the P Word” quiz with friends. Gamifying learning makes it interactive and stress-free. 
• Personalize Your Word Journal
  Keep a small notebook or digital document where you jot down new “P” words. Write the meaning, a drawing, and an example sentence.

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Conclusion

Science words that start with “P” open the door to powerful knowledge across physics, chemistry, biology, math, earth science, technology, and even forensic science. From everyday student-friendly terms like plant, planet, and push to advanced concepts such as photosynthesis, plasma, and probability, the letter “P” proves to be both pivotal and profound in scientific learning. By exploring these terms, students not only expand their vocabulary but also deepen their understanding of the principles, processes, and phenomena that shape our universe.