What is the difference between a sensor and a transducer?

Answer 1

Mostly, the difference is that the transducer is a sender, and a sensor is a receiver. That is to say, electrical energy into the transducer will produce something in the environment, like sound or pressure, while the sensor will accept some characteristic of the environment and give you an electrical current. But these are very general words, so the definitions are not consistent. Most of these devices work in both directions but are more efficient sending or receiving. For example a microphone is an example of a sensor, but it will put out come sound if you drive it with a signal. (be careful, easy to destroy it). A speaker is an example of a sound transducer, but if you connect it like a dynamic microphone you will pick up some sound inefficently. The word "transducer" is sometimes used to indicate a device that is good in both directions.

Answer 2

A sensor is just that. It will sense a physical parameter and usually turn it into a usable signal. A thermocouple takes will put out a signal
that's proportional to its temperature. A transducer usually takes on form of energy and changes it to another. A speaker is an example of a transducer which takes an electrical signal and turns it into sound.

Answer 3

Hope I can word this right. A Sensor is a device for decting or measuring physical property, and Transducer is a device for converting energy into another form.

Answer 4

though both perform same task change all kind of enery to electric form i think there is no difference besides some circuit structure and physical requirements