Difference Between Stationary and Progressive Waves

 

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Stationary Wave	Progressive Wave
Also called	Standing wave	Traveling wave
Basic	Energy is confined within the medium.	The transfer of energy from a location to another within the medium takes place.
Molecular vibration	Each particle of the wave exhibits different vibration at the same instant of time	Each particle of the wave possesses similar vibration at a different instant of time.
Amplitude characteristic of particles	Different	Same
Motion	Not transferable among the particles.	Easily transferred among the particles.
Velocity at mean position	All particles have their own maximum velocity.	All particles have similar maximum velocity.
Crests and Troughs	The crests and troughs of the waveform appear and disappear at the initial position.	The crests and troughs of the waveform move in the forward direction.
Wavelength	Double the distance present between 2 consecutive nodes or anti-nodes.	The distance between the point of similar phase at the similar time instant.