Pump vs. Motor — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 13, 2024
A pump is a device used to move fluids, such as liquids or gases, by mechanical action; a motor is a device that converts electrical or other forms of energy into mechanical energy to perform work.
Difference Between Pump and Motor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A pump is a mechanical device specifically designed to move fluids (either liquids or gases) from one place to another through various mechanisms such as displacement, centrifugal force, or electromagnetic force. On the other hand, a motor is a device that converts various forms of energy, typically electrical, into mechanical energy. This conversion facilitates the operation of machinery, vehicles, and other systems that require mechanical motion to function.
While pumps specifically deal with the movement of fluids, motors have a broader application range in providing the necessary power to drive mechanical systems, including pumps. For instance, an electric motor might be used to power a hydraulic pump, which then uses that mechanical energy to move fluid.
The operation of a pump typically involves creating a low pressure area at its inlet which allows the fluid to be pushed through the pump by atmospheric or fluid pressures. Conversely, a motor converts electrical energy into rotational force, or torque, which can be used to drive various mechanical systems.
In terms of application, pumps are indispensable in industries like water management, oil and gas, and chemical processing, where fluid transport is crucial. Motors, however, are essential components in nearly every industry due to their role in powering machinery and devices.
Comparison Chart
Function
Moves fluids through mechanical action.
Converts energy into mechanical motion.
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Types
Centrifugal, Diaphragm, Reciprocating.
Electric, Hydraulic, Pneumatic.
Energy Conversion
Mechanical to fluid dynamic energy.
Electrical, hydraulic, etc., to mechanical.
Primary Use
Fluid transport in various systems.
Powers a wide range of machinery and devices.
Example Applications
Water pumps, oil pumps, air pumps.
Motors in cars, appliances, industrial machines.
Compare with Definitions
Pump
Can handle various types of fluids, including viscous and corrosive materials.
Chemical plants use special pumps designed to handle corrosive substances.
Motor
A device that converts energy into mechanical force or motion.
Electric motors convert electrical energy into motion to drive conveyor belts.
Pump
Varies widely in size and capacity.
Small pumps are used in medical devices, while large ones are used in municipal water supply systems.
Motor
Essential component in both industrial and consumer products.
Washing machines use motors to agitate water and clothes.
Pump
A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted from electrical energy into hydraulic energy. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they use to move the fluid: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps.Pumps operate by some mechanism (typically reciprocating or rotary), and consume energy to perform mechanical work moving the fluid.
Motor
Central to modern transportation.
Motors power everything from electric cars to drones.
Pump
A machine or device for raising, compressing, or transferring fluids.
Motor
Something, such as a machine or an engine, that produces or imparts motion.
Pump
(Physiology)A molecular mechanism for the active transport of ions or molecules across a cell membrane.
Motor
A device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy, especially an internal-combustion engine or an arrangement of coils and magnets that converts electric current into mechanical power.
Pump
(Physics)Electromagnetic radiation used to raise atoms or molecules to a higher energy level.
Motor
A motor vehicle, especially an automobile
"It was a night of lovers. All along the highway ... motors were parked and dim figures were clasped in revery" (Sinclair Lewis).
Pump
(Informal)The heart.
Motor
Causing or producing motion
Motor power.
Pump
(Informal)The place where consumers purchase gasoline. Used with the:gas prices rising at the pump.
Motor
Driven by or having a motor.
Pump
A shoe that has a closed back and is cut low around the toes, usually with heels and no fastenings.
Motor
Of or for motors or motor vehicles
Motor oil.
Pump
To cause to flow by means of a pump or pumplike organ or device:Derricks pumped oil out of the ground. The heart pumps blood throughout the body.
Motor
Of, relating to, or designating nerves that carry impulses from the nerve centers to the muscles.
Pump
To draw, deliver, or pour forth:a writer who pumped out a new novel every year.
Motor
Involving or relating to movements of the muscles
Motor coordination.
A motor reflex.
Pump
To propel, eject, or insert:pumped new life into the economy.
Motor
To drive or travel in a motor vehicle.
Pump
To cause to move with an up-and-down or back-and-forth motion:a bicyclist pumping the pedals; a piston pumping a shaft.
Motor
To carry by motor vehicle.
Pump
To push or pull (a brake or lever, for instance) rapidly:a driver pumping the brakes.
Motor
A machine or device that converts other energy forms into mechanical energy, or imparts motion.
Pump
To shoot (bullets, for example) at or into:a gunner pumping rounds at a target.
Motor
(colloquial) A motor car, or automobile, even a goods vehicle.
Nice motor!
Pump
(Physics)To raise (atoms or molecules) to a higher energy level by exposing them to electromagnetic radiation at a resonant frequency.
Motor
(figuratively) A source of power for something; an inspiration; a driving force.
Pump
(Physiology)To transport (ions or molecules) against a concentration gradient by the expenditure of chemically stored energy.
Motor
Any protein capable of converting chemical energy into mechanical work.
Pump
To invest (money) repeatedly or persistently in something.
Motor
The controller or prime mover of the universe; God.
Pump
To question closely or persistently:pump a witness for secret information.
Motor
(prison slang) The fermenting mass of fruit that is the basis of pruno, or "prison wine".
Pump
(Informal)To promote or publicize vigorously:The company pumped its new product on its website.
Motor
(biology) Relating to the ability to move.
She has excellent motor skills.
Pump
To operate a pump.
Motor
Relating to motor cars.
Motor insurance is expensive for youngsters.
Pump
To move gas or liquid with a pump or a pumplike organ or device.
Motor
(nautical) Propelled by an internal combustion engine as opposed to a steam engine or turbine.
Pump
To move up and down or back and forth in a vigorous manner:My legs were pumping as I ran up the stairs.
Motor
(dated) To make a journey by motor vehicle; to drive.
On Saturday we motored down to Plymouth.
Pump
To flow in spurts:Blood was pumping from the wound.
Motor
To rotate a jet engine or turboprop using the engine's starter, without introducing fuel into the engine.
During startup, the engine should be motored for 20 to 30 seconds to allow the shafts to straighten out, as they may have become bowed under their own weight while the airplane was sitting on the ground.
Pump
(Sports)To fake a throw, pass, or shot by moving the arm or arms without releasing the ball.
Motor
To progress at a brisk pace.
Sales were slow at first, but now things are really motoring.
Pump
A device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas.
This pump can deliver 100 gallons of water per minute.
Motor
(slang) To leave.
I gotta motor.
Pump
An instance of the action of a pump; one stroke of a pump; any action similar to pumping
It takes thirty pumps to get 10 litres; he did 50 pumps of the weights.
Motor
One who, or that which, imparts motion; a source of mechanical power.
Pump
A device for dispensing liquid or gas to be sold, particularly fuel.
This pump is out of order, but you can gas up at the next one.
Motor
A prime mover; a machine by means of which a source of power, as steam, moving water, electricity, etc., is made available for doing mechanical work.
Pump
A swelling of the muscles caused by increased blood flow following high intensity weightlifting.
Motor
A motor car; an automobile.
Pump
(colloquial) A ride on a bicycle given to a passenger, usually on the handlebars or fender.
She gave the other girl a pump on her new bike.
Motor
Causing or setting up motion; pertaining to organs of motion; - applied especially in physiology to those nerves or nerve fibers which only convey impressions from a nerve center to muscles, thereby causing motion.
Pump
The heart.
Motor
Machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
Pump
(British) A low-top shoe with a rubber sole and a canvas upper; a low-top canvas sneaker.
Motor
A nonspecific agent that imparts motion;
Happiness is the aim of all men and the motor of all action
Pump
A type of women's shoe which leaves the instep uncovered and has a relatively high heel, especially a stiletto (with a very high and thin heel)
She was wearing a lovely new pair of pumps.
Motor
Travel or be transported in a vehicle;
We drove to the university every morning
They motored to London for the theater
Pump
A dancing shoe.
Motor
Conveying information to the muscles from the CNS;
Motor nerves
Pump
A type of shoe without a heel.en
Motor
Causing or able to cause motion;
A motive force
Motive power
Motor energy
Pump
To use a pump; to move (water or other liquid) by means of a pump.
I've been pumping for over a minute but the water isn't coming through.
I've pumped over 1000 gallons of water in the last ten minutes.
Motor
Can be powered by various energy sources.
Some motors run on electricity, while others may use hydraulic or pneumatic power.
Pump
(obsolete) To put (a person or part of the body) under a stream of water from a pump, as a punishment or as a form of medical treatment; to force a pump of water upon or on someone.
Motor
Designed for efficiency and performance.
Modern motors are designed to maximize output while minimizing energy consumption.
Pump
(transitive) To gain information from (a person) by persistent questioning.
Pump
(British slang) To copulate.
Pump
To express milk from (a breast) by means of a breast pump.
Pump
To fill with air by means of a pump; to inflate.
He pumped up the air-bed by hand, but used the service station air to pump up the tyres.
Pump
(transitive) To move rhythmically, as the motion of a pump.
I pumped my fist with joy when I won the race.
Pump
(bodybuilding) To enlarge the body by means of weightlifting or steroid use.
Pump
(transitive) To shake (a person's hand) vigorously.
Pump
Of music: to be loud, to have strong bass and rhythms; by extension to be full of energy.
The waves were really pumping this morning.
Last night's party was really pumping.
Pump
(sports) To kick, throw, or hit the ball far and high.
Pump
To pass gas; to fart quietly.
Pump
(computing) To pass (messages) into a program so that it can obey them.
Pump
2005 and the .NET 2.0 Platform
Pump
(colloquial) To inject silicone into the body in order to try to achieve a fuller or curvier look.
Pump
A low shoe with a thin sole.
Pump
An hydraulic machine, variously constructed, for raising or transferring fluids, consisting essentially of a moving piece or piston working in a hollow cylinder or other cavity, with valves properly placed for admitting or retaining the fluid as it is drawn or driven through them by the action of the piston.
Pump
To raise with a pump, as water or other liquid.
Pump
To draw water, or the like, from; to from water by means of a pump; as, they pumped the well dry; to pump a ship.
Pump
Figuratively, to draw out or obtain, as secrets or money, by persistent questioning or plying; to question or ply persistently in order to elicit something, as information, money, etc.
But pump not me for politics.
Pump
To work, or raise water, a pump.
Pump
A mechanical device that moves fluid or gas by pressure or suction
Pump
The hollow muscular organ located behind the sternum and between the lungs; its rhythmic contractions pump blood through the body;
He stood still, his heart thumping wildly
Pump
A low-cut shoe without fastenings
Pump
Operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
Pump
Deliver forth;
Pump bullets into the dummy
Pump
Draw or pour with a pump
Pump
Supply in great quantities;
Pump money into a project
Pump
Flow intermittently
Pump
Move up and down;
The athlete pumps weights in the gym
Pump
Raise (gases oor fluids) with a pump
Pump
Question persistently;
She pumped the witnesses for information
Pump
A device for moving or compressing fluids.
The aquarium uses a water pump to circulate water through a filtration system.
Pump
Operates by creating pressure differences.
The heart acts as a pump to move blood throughout the body.
Pump
Essential for systems requiring fluid movement.
Cooling systems in power plants rely on pumps to circulate water.
Common Curiosities
Are motors found in pumps?
Yes, many pumps use motors to provide the energy needed to move the fluid.
Can a pump work without a motor?
Most mechanical pumps require a motor to drive them, although manual pumps that operate without a motor exist, such as bicycle air pumps.
How do pumps contribute to everyday life?
Pumps are integral in various applications, from providing water to homes and farms to managing sewage and floodwaters.
What distinguishes a pump from a motor?
A pump specifically moves fluids by creating pressure differences, whereas a motor converts energy into mechanical force or motion.
What types of energy do motors convert?
Motors can convert electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic energy into mechanical energy.
What advancements have been made in motor technology?
Recent advancements include improvements in energy efficiency, reductions in size for the same power outputs, and the development of motors that can run on renewable energy.
How do pumps and motors interact in a system?
In many systems, motors provide the mechanical energy that pumps need to move fluids through the system.
What are the key factors to consider when choosing a motor?
Considerations include the type of energy source, the required power output, efficiency, and the specific application's needs.
Can pumps handle gases as well as liquids?
Yes, certain types of pumps, like vacuum pumps and air pumps, are specifically designed to move gases.
What industries rely heavily on both pumps and motors?
Industries such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and utilities rely heavily on both pumps and motors for a variety of processes.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
