What is the difference between piston and plunger?
Answer:
A piston is in a sealed or semi sealed system. It is used to compress whatever is in the system. 99% of the time it is a gas. One application of pistons are in internal combustion engines. On a four stroke engine the pistons compress the fuel air mixture so that the spark plug can ignite them. when the mixture is ignited it forces the piston back down. On the next stroke the exhaust valve opens and the piston pushes the spent mixture out. at the top the exhaust valve closes and the intake valve opens. The air and fuel are allowed to enter the piston chamber as the piston goes down. then the intake valve closes and the piston compress the air fuel mixture and the spark plug goes off; and it starts over again. You will also find pistons in air-compressors and shock absorbers. Plungers are found in systems that are more open. Best example is the toilet plunger another example is a solder sucker.
A piston is inside an internal combustion engine. Gas gets sprayed in, there is a spark, and there is an explosion, forcing the piston down the cylinder.
A plunger is a object that you use to clear log jams in the toilet.
Both are really same but a piston may work in an internal combustion engine or a steam engine to produce power and a plunger is used to pump fluids. Strictly speaking a plunger should be vertical (to plunge means to jump down), but in engineering it is not used in that strict sense.
A piston is generally a solid cylinder within a hollow cylinder and is connected to a drive mechanism to produce 'Reciprocation' within the hollow cylinder. (Piston rings prevent leakage between the piston and the cylinder walls. (As in a pump or compressor).
A plunger is generally a rubber cup mounted on a handle for use in clearing blockages in sink drains and toilets and is hand operated, usually with frenzied action. Leakage around the cup is not a problem.except for the splashing...
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