Scientific Inquiry — B2 English Vocabulary

This B2 vocabulary list gathers 50 upper-intermediate English words about scientific inquiry — particles, cells and physical laws. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

1. particle/ˈpɑː.tɪ.kəl/

   “A particle is smaller than an atom.”

2. electron/ɪˈlek.trɒn/

   “An electron has a negative charge.”

3. nucleus/ˈnjuː.kli.əs/

   “The nucleus is the centre of an atom.”

4. organism/ˈɔː.ɡə.nɪ.zəm/

   “A cell is a living organism.”

5. enzyme/ˈen.zaɪm/

   “An enzyme speeds up the reaction.”

6. compound/ˈkɒm.paʊnd/

   “Water is a chemical compound.”

7. radiation/ˌreɪ.diˈeɪ.ʃən/

   “The sun gives off radiation.”

8. velocity/vəˈlɒs.ɪ.ti/

   “The car reached a high velocity.”

9. momentum/məˈmen.təm/

   “A heavy ball has more momentum.”

10. mass/mæs/

    “The mass of the object is two kilograms.”

11. density/ˈden.sɪ.ti/

    “Lead has a high density.”

12. friction/ˈfrɪk.ʃən/

    “Friction slows the moving object.”

13. magnetism/ˈmæɡ.nə.tɪ.zəm/

    “Magnetism pulls the metal closer.”

14. voltage/ˈvəʊl.tɪdʒ/

    “High voltage is dangerous.”

15. circuit/ˈsɜː.kɪt/

    “Electricity flows around the circuit.”

16. specimen/ˈspes.ɪ.mən/

    “They studied a rare specimen.”

17. observation/ˌɒb.zəˈveɪ.ʃən/

    “He recorded each observation.”

18. apparatus/ˌæp.əˈreɪ.təs/

    “The apparatus measured the gas.”

19. catalyst/ˈkæt.ə.lɪst/

    “A catalyst speeds up a reaction.”

20. atomic/əˈtɒm.ɪk/

    “They study atomic structure.”

21. genetic/dʒəˈnet.ɪk/

    “Eye colour is a genetic trait.”

22. chromosome/ˈkrəʊ.mə.səʊm/

    “Each chromosome carries genes.”

23. evolutionary/ˌiː.vəˈluː.ʃən.ər.i/

    “It is an evolutionary advantage.”

24. matter/ˈmæt.ə/

    “All matter is made of atoms.”

25. quantum/ˈkwɒn.təm/

    “Quantum physics is very strange.”

26. spectrum/ˈspek.trəm/

    “Light splits into a spectrum.”

27. fluid/ˈfluː.ɪd/

    “Blood is a fluid in the body.”

28. orbit/ˈɔː.bɪt/

    “The moon is in orbit around the earth.”

29. cosmic/ˈkɒz.mɪk/

    “Cosmic rays come from space.”

30. physicist/ˈfɪz.ɪ.sɪst/

    “The physicist won a prize.”

31. biologist/baɪˈɒl.ə.dʒɪst/

    “The biologist studies plants.”

32. geneticist/dʒəˈnet.ɪ.sɪst/

    “A geneticist mapped the gene.”

33. calibrate/ˈkæl.ɪ.breɪt/

    “They calibrate the instrument.”

34. equation/ɪˈkweɪ.ʒən/

    “She solved the equation.”

35. principle/ˈprɪn.sə.pəl/

    “It follows a basic scientific principle.”

36. advancement/ədˈvɑːns.mənt/

    “It is a major scientific advancement.”

37. probe/prəʊb/

    “Scientists probe the deep ocean.”

38. isotope/ˈaɪ.sə.təʊp/

    “The isotope is radioactive.”

39. synthesise/ˈsɪn.θə.saɪz/

    “They can synthesise the drug.”

40. tissue/ˈtɪʃ.uː/

    “Muscle tissue repairs itself.”

41. membrane/ˈmem.breɪn/

    “The cell has a thin membrane.”

42. microscopic/ˌmaɪ.krəˈskɒp.ɪk/

    “The cells are microscopic.”

43. astronomy/əˈstrɒn.ə.mi/

    “She studies astronomy.”

44. combustion/kəmˈbʌs.tʃən/

    “Combustion produces heat.”

45. gravitational/ˌɡræv.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən.əl/

    “Gravitational force keeps us on earth.”

46. replicate/ˈrep.lɪ.keɪt/

    “Others could not replicate the result.”

47. finding/ˈfaɪn.dɪŋ/

    “The main finding was surprising.”

48. quantify/ˈkwɒn.tɪ.faɪ/

    “It is hard to quantify happiness.”

49. experimental/ɪkˌsper.ɪˈmen.təl/

    “It is still at the experimental stage.”

50. molecular/məˈlek.jə.lə/

    “They study molecular biology.”