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Encyclopedia > Rotation symmetry

Rotational symmetry is symmetry with respect to some or all rotations in m-dimensional Euclidean space. Rotations are direct isometries, i.e., isometries preserving orientation. Therefore a symmetry group of rotational symmetry is a subgroup of E+(m) (see Euclidean group). Square with symmetry group D4 Symmetry is a characteristic of geometrical shapes, equations, and other objects; we say that such an object is symmetric with respect to a given operation if this operation, when applied to the object, does not appear to change it. ... Rotation of a plane, seen as the rotation of the terrain relative to the plane (exposure time 1. ... In mathematics, Euclidean space is a generalization of the 2- and 3-dimensional spaces studied by Euclid. ... In mathematics, an orientation on a real vector space is a choice of which ordered bases are positively oriented (or right-handed) and which are negatively oriented (or left-handed). ... The symmetry group of an object (e. ... In mathematics, the Euclidean group is the symmetry group associated with Euclidean geometry. ...


Symmetry with respect to all rotations about all points implies translational symmetry with respect to all translations, and the symmetry group is the whole E+(m). This does not apply for objects because it makes space homogeneous, but it may apply for physical laws. In physics and mathematics, translational symmetry is the invariance of an object or a system of equations under the translations - operations that change the coordinates of all objects by a constant. ...


For symmetry with respect to rotations about a point we can take that point as origin. These rotations form the special orthogonal group SO(m), the group of m×m orthogonal matrices with determinant 1. For m=3 this is the rotation group. In mathematics, the orthogonal group of degree n over a field F (written as O(n,F)) is the group of n-by-n orthogonal matrices with entries from F, with the group operation that of matrix multiplication. ... In linear algebra, an orthogonal matrix is a square matrix G whose transpose is its inverse, The definition can be given for matrices with entries from any field, but the most common case is the one of matrices with real entries, and only that case will be considered in the... In mechanics and geometry, the rotation group is the set of all rotations of 3-dimensional Euclidean space, R3. ...


In another meaning of the word, the rotation group of an object is the symmetry group within E+(n), the group of direct isometries; in other words, the intersection of the full symmetry group and the group of direct isometries. For chiral objects it is the same as the full symmetry group. In mathematics, the Euclidean group is the symmetry group associated with Euclidean geometry. ... In geometry, a figure is chiral (and said to have chirality) if it is not identical to its mirror image, or more particularly if it cannot be mapped to its mirror image by rotations and translations alone. ...


Laws of physics are SO(3)-invariant if they do not distinguish different directions in space. Because of Noether's theorem, rotational symmetry of a physical system is equivalent to the angular momentum conservation law. See also rotational invariance. Noethers theorem is a central result in theoretical physics that expresses the one-to-one correspondence between symmetries and conservation laws. ... In physics the angular momentum of an object with respect to a reference point is a measure for the extent to which, and the direction in which, the object rotates about the reference point. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Contents


n-fold rotational symmetry

Rotational symmetry of order n, also called n-fold rotational symmetry, with respect to a particular point (in 2D) or axis (in 3D) means that rotation by an angle of 360°/n (180°, 120°, 90°, 72°, 60°, 51 3/7 °, etc.) does not change the object.


Note that "1-fold" symmetry is no symmetry, and "2-fold" is the simplest symmetry, so it does mean "more than basic".


The notation for n-fold symmetry is Cn or simply "n". The actual symmetry group is specified by the point or axis of symmetry, together with the n. For each point or axis of symmetry the abstract group type is cyclic group Zn of order n. Although for the latter also the notation Cn is used, the geometric and abstract Cn should be distinguished: there are other symmetry groups of the same abstract group type which are geometrically different, see cyclic symmetry groups in 3D. In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal. ... The symmetry group of an object (e. ... In group theory, a cyclic group is a group that can be generated by a single element, in the sense that the group has an element a (called a generator of the group) such that, when written multiplicatively, every element of the group is a power of a (or na... A discrete point group in 3D is a finite symmetry group in 3D that leaves the origin fixed. ...


The fundamental domain is a sector of 360°/n. In mathematics, given a lattice Γ in a Lie group G, a fundamental domain is a set D of representatives for the cosets G/Γ, that is also a well-behaved set topologically, in a sense that can be made precise in one of several ways. ...


Examples without additional reflection symmetry: Figures with the axes of symmetry drawn in. ...

Cn is the rotation group of a regular n-sided polygon in 2D and of a regular n-sided pyramid in 3D. In geometry, a quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four vertices. ... A parallelogram. ... Taoists Taijitu The concept of yin and yang (Traditional Chinese: 陰陽; Simplified Chinese: 阴阳; Pinyin: ; Korean hangul: 음양; hanja: 陰陽; revised: eumyang; McCune-Reischauer: ŭmyang; Vietnamese: ) originates in ancient Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, which describes two primal opposing but complementary forces found in all things in the universe. ... The armoured triskelion on the flag of the Isle of Man Triskelion (or triskele, from Greek τρισκελης three-legged) is a symbol consisting of three bent human legs, or, more generally, three interlocked spirals, or any similar symbol with three protrusions exhibiting a symmetry of the cyclic group C3. ... A right-facing Swastika in decorative Hindu form For the town in Ontario, see Swastika, Ontario. ... Raels first published book, the basis of the Raelian movement Raëlism is the belief system promoted by the Raëlian Movement, a religious organization which believes that scientifically advanced extraterrestrials known as the Elohim (one of the words used to refer to God in the Torah) created life... Look up Polygon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Geometric shape created by connecting a polygonal base to an apex For other versions including architectural Pyramids, see Pyramid (disambiguation). ...


If there is e.g. rotational symmetry with respect to an angle of 100°, then also with respect to one of 20°, the greatest common divisor of 100° and 360°. In mathematics, the greatest common divisor (gcd), sometimes known as the greatest common factor (gcf) or highest common factor (hcf) of two integers which are both not zero is the largest integer that divides both numbers. ...


A typical 3D object with rotational symmetry (possibly also with perpendicular axes) but no mirror symmetry is a propeller. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...


Examples

C2

logo Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways)
logo Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways)


Image File history File links Nederlandse_spoorwegen_logo. ... Image File history File links Nederlandse_spoorwegen_logo. ... Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) is the main public transport railway company in the Netherlands. ...


C3

The BDSM emblem triskelion.
Enlarge
The BDSM emblem triskelion.


Image File history File links Znak_A-8. ... Image File history File links Znak_A-8. ... A German Autobahn overhead direction sign A U.S. warning sign indicating that drivers who do not wish to exit immediately should merge left, and a prohibitory No Stopping sign Most countries erect signage, known as traffic signs or road signs, at the side of roads to impart information to... A roundabout, rotary, or gyratory circus is a type of road junction (or traffic calming device) at which traffic streams circularly around a central island after first yielding to the circulating traffic. ... The BDSM-emblem from http://members. ... The BDSM-emblem from http://members. ... A collar is a common symbol of BDSM. BDSM is a term which describes a number of related patterns of human sexual behaviour. ... The armoured triskelion on the flag of the Isle of Man Triskelion (or triskele, from Greek τρισκελης three-legged) is a symbol consisting of three bent human legs, or, more generally, three interlocked spirals, or any similar symbol with three protrusions exhibiting a symmetry of the cyclic group C3. ...


C4

The flag of Nazi Germany and the NSDAP, with swastika; C4 applies for the circle area
The flag of Nazi Germany and the NSDAP, with swastika; C4 applies for the circle area
Syrian Social Nationalist Party flag; C4 applies for the circle area
Syrian Social Nationalist Party flag; C4 applies for the circle area
The swastika in decorative Hindu form
The swastika in decorative Hindu form


Image File history File links Flag_Germany_1933. ... Image File history File links Flag_Germany_1933. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... The National Socialist German Workers Party (German: (help· info)), better known as the NSDAP or the Nazi Party was a political party that was led to power in Germany by Adolf Hitler in 1933. ... A right-facing Swastika in decorative Hindu form For the town in Ontario, see Swastika, Ontario. ... SSNP flag. ... SSNP flag. ... SSNP flag The Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP, Arabic: الحزب السوري القومي الاجتماعي al-Hizb as-SÅ«rÄ« al-QawmÄ« al-Ijtimā`Ä«, often referred to in French as Parti Populaire Syrien) is a nationalist political party in Syria and Lebanon. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Swastika Wikipedia:Todays featured article/May 2005 Wikipedia:Todays featured article/May 1, 2005 ... File links The following pages link to this file: Swastika Wikipedia:Todays featured article/May 2005 Wikipedia:Todays featured article/May 1, 2005 ... A Hindu (archaic Hindoo), as per modern definition is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of the Indian subcontinent and the island of Bali. ...


Mixed

On the right 6-fold rotational symmetry; on the left partly 4-fold, partly 6-fold, together 2-fold: the Raëlian symbol, before and after 1991
On the right 6-fold rotational symmetry; on the left partly 4-fold, partly 6-fold, together 2-fold: the Raëlian symbol, before and after 1991


Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2020x1037, 12 KB) Summary Symbols of Raëlism before and after 1991. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2020x1037, 12 KB) Summary Symbols of Raëlism before and after 1991. ... Raëls first published book, the basis of the Raëlian movement Raëlism is the belief system promoted by the Raëlian Movement, a religious group which believes that scientifically advanced extraterrestrials known as the Elohim (as found in the Hebrew texts of the Christian Bible and the...


Multiple symmetry axes through the same point

For discrete symmetry with multiple symmetry axes through the same point, there are the following possibilities:

  • In addition to an n-fold axis, n perpendicular 2-fold axes: the dihedral groups Dn of order 2n (n≥2). This is the rotation group of a regular prism, or regular bipyramid. Although the same notation is used, the geometric and abstract Dn should be distinguished: there are other symmetry groups of the same abstract group type which are geometrically different, see dihedral symmetry groups in 3D.
  • 4×3-fold and 3×2-fold axes: the rotation group T of order 12 of a regular tetrahedron. The group is isomorphic to alternating group A4.
  • 3×4-fold, 4×3-fold, and 6×2-fold axes: the rotation group O of order 24 of a cube and a regular octahedron. The group is isomorphic to symmetric group S4.
  • 6×5-fold, 10×3-fold, and 15×2-fold axes: the rotation group I of order 60 of a dodecahedron and an icosahedron. The group is isomorphic to alternating group A5. The group contains 10 versions of D3 and 6 versions of D5 (rotational symmetries like prisms and antiprisms).

In the case of the Platonic solids, the 2-fold axes are through the midpoints of opposite edges, the number of them is half the number of edges. The other axes are through opposite vertices and through centers of opposite faces, except in the case of the tetrahedron, where the 3-fold axes are each through one vertex and the center of one face. This article may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to enhance clarity. ... In geometry, a prism is a polyhedron made of two parallel copies of some polygonal base joined by faces that are rectangles or parallelograms. ... A bipyramid is a polyhedron formed by joining two identical pyramids base-to-base. ... This article may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to enhance clarity. ... A tetrahedron (plural: tetrahedra) is a polyhedron composed of four triangular faces, three of which meet at each vertex. ... In mathematics, an isomorphism (in Greek isos = equal and morphe = shape) is a kind of interesting mapping between objects. ... In mathematics an alternating group is the group of even permutations of a finite set. ... A cube (or regular hexahedron) is a three-dimensional Platonic solid composed of six square faces, with three meeting at each vertex. ... An octahedron (plural: octahedra) is a polyhedron with eight faces. ... In mathematics, the symmetric group on a set X, denoted by SX or Sym(X), is the group whose underlying set is the set of all bijective functions from X to X, in which the group operation is that of composition of functions, i. ... A dodecahedron is literally a polyhedron with 12 faces, but usually a regular dodecahedron is meant: a Platonic solid composed of twelve pentagonal faces, with three meeting at each vertex. ... An icosahedron [ˌaıkəsəhiːdrən] noun (plural: -drons, -dra [-drə]) is a polyhedron having 20 faces, but usually a regular icosahedron is meant. ... In solid geometry and some ancient physical theories, a Platonic solid is a convex polyhedron with all its faces being congruent regular polygons, and the same number of faces meeting at each of its vertices. ...


Rotational symmetry with respect to any angle

Rotational symmetry with respect to any angle is, in two dimensions, circular symmetry. The fundamental domain is a half-line. Circular symmetry in mathematical physics applies to a 2-dimensional field which can be expressed as a function of distance from a central point only. ... A line, or straight line, can be described as an (infinitely) thin, (infinitely) long, perfectly straight curve (the term curve in mathematics includes straight curves). In Euclidean geometry, exactly one line can be found that passes through any two points. ...


In three dimensions we can distinguish cylindrical symmetry and spherical symmetry (no change when rotating about one axis, or for any rotation). That is, no dependence on the angle using cylindrical coordinates and no dependence on either angle using spherical coordinates. The fundamental domain is a half-plane through the axis, and a radial half-line, respectively. An example of approximate spherical symmetry is the Earth (with respect to density and other physical and chemical properties). This article describes some of the common coordinate systems that appear in elementary mathematics. ... This article describes some of the common coordinate systems that appear in elementary mathematics. ... In geometry, a half-space is any of the two parts into which a hyperplane divides an affine space. ...


In 4D, continuous or discrete rotational symmetry about a plane corresponds to corresponding 2D rotational symmetry in every perpendicular plane, about the point of intersection. An object can also have rotational symmetry about two perpendicular planes, e.g. if it is the Cartesian product of two rotationally symmetry 2D figures, as in the case of e.g. the duocylinder and various regular duoprisms. In mathematics, the Cartesian product (or direct product) of two sets X and Y, denoted X × Y, is the set of all possible ordered pairs whose first component is a member of X and whose second component is a member of Y: The Cartesian product is named after René Descartes... The duocylinder is a geometric object embedded in 4-dimensional Euclidean space, defined as the Cartesian product of two disks of radius r: // Geometry Bounding 3-manifolds The duocylinder is bounded by two mutually perpendicular 3-manifolds with torus-like surfaces, described by the equations: and The duocylinder is so... A duoprism is a 4-dimensional figure resulting from the Cartesian product of two polygons in the 2-dimensional Euclidean space. ...


Rotational symmetry together with translational symmetry

Arrangement within a primitive cell of 2- and 4-fold rotocenters. A fundamental domain is indicated in yellow.
Arrangement within a primitive cell of 2- and 4-fold rotocenters. A fundamental domain is indicated in yellow.

2-fold rotational symmetry together with single translational symmetry is one of the Frieze groups. There are two rotocenters per primitive cell. Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Symmetry User:Patrick Wallpaper group ... Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Symmetry User:Patrick Wallpaper group ... In solid state physics and mineralogy, particularly in describing crystal structure, a primitive cell is a minimum volume cell corresponding to a single lattice point. ... In mathematics, given a lattice Γ in a Lie group G, a fundamental domain is a set D of representatives for the cosets G/Γ, that is also a well-behaved set topologically, in a sense that can be made precise in one of several ways. ... In physics and mathematics, translational symmetry is the invariance of an object or a system of equations under the translations - operations that change the coordinates of all objects by a constant. ... A frieze group is an infinite discrete symmetry group for a pattern on a strip (infinitely wide rectangle). ... In solid state physics and mineralogy, particularly in describing crystal structure, a primitive cell is a minimum volume cell corresponding to a single lattice point. ...


Together with double translational symmetry the rotation groups are the following wallpaper groups, with axes per primitive cell: Example of an Egyptian design with wallpaper group p4m A wallpaper group (or plane crystallographic group) is a mathematical concept to classify repetitive designs on two-dimensional surfaces, such as walls, based on the symmetries in the pattern. ...

  • p2 (2222): 4×2-fold; rotation group of a parallelogrammic, rectangular, and rhombic lattice.
  • p3 (333): 3×3-fold; not the rotation group of any lattice (every lattice is upside-down the same, but that does not apply for this symmetry); it is e.g. the rotation group of the regular triangular tiling with the equilateral triangles alternatingly colored.
  • p4 (442): 2×4-fold, 2×2-fold; rotation group of a square lattice.
  • p6 (632): 1×6-fold, 2×3-fold, 3×2-fold; rotation group of a hexagonal lattice.
  • 2-fold rotocenters (including possible 4-fold and 6-fold), if present at all, form the translate of a lattice equal to the translational lattice, scaled by a factor 1/2. In the case translational symmetry in one dimension, a similar property applies, though the term "lattice" does not apply.
  • 3-fold rotocenters (including possible 6-fold), if present at all, form a regular hexagonal lattice equal to the translational lattice, rotated by 30° (or equivalently 90°), and scaled by a factor frac{1}{3} sqrt 3
Arrangement within a primitive cell of 2-, 3-, and 6-fold rotocenters, alone or in combination (consider the 6-fold symbol as a combination of a 2- and a 3-fold symbol); in the case of 2-fold symmetry only, the shape of the parallelogram can be different. For the case p6, a fundamental domain is indicated in yellow.
Arrangement within a primitive cell of 2-, 3-, and 6-fold rotocenters, alone or in combination (consider the 6-fold symbol as a combination of a 2- and a 3-fold symbol); in the case of 2-fold symmetry only, the shape of the parallelogram can be different. For the case p6, a fundamental domain is indicated in yellow.
  • 4-fold rotocenters, if present at all, form a regular square lattice equal to the translational lattice, rotated by 45°, and scaled by a factor frac{1}{2} sqrt 2
  • 6-fold rotocenters, if present at all, form a regular hexagonal lattice which is the translate of the translational lattice.

Scaling of a lattice divides the number of points per unit area by the square of the scale factor. Therefore the number of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-fold rotocenters per primitive cell is 4, 3, 2, and 1, respectively, again including 4-fold as a special case of 2-fold, etc. A parallelogram. ... In geometry, a rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral polygon in which all four angles are right angles. ... This shape is a rhombus In geometry, a rhombus (also known as a rhomb) is a quadrilateral in which all of the sides are of equal length. ... See lattice for other meanings of this term, both within and without mathematics. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... In plane geometry, a square is a polygon with four equal sides and equal angles. ... A regular hexagon A hexagon (also known as sexagon) is a polygon with six edges and six vertices. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (827x472, 54 KB) Should be replaced with SVG. --EugeneZelenko 02:04, 21 September 2005 (UTC) Description: Cell structure diagram of the wallpaper group p6 Source: generated by inkscape from SVG generated by self written XSLT Date: created 22. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (827x472, 54 KB) Should be replaced with SVG. --EugeneZelenko 02:04, 21 September 2005 (UTC) Description: Cell structure diagram of the wallpaper group p6 Source: generated by inkscape from SVG generated by self written XSLT Date: created 22. ... A parallelogram. ...


3-fold rotational symmetry at one point and 2-fold at another one (or ditto in 3D with respect to parallel axes) implies rotation group p6, i.e. double translational symmetry and 6-fold rotational symmetry at some point (or, in 3D, parallel axis). The translation distance for the symmetry generated by one such pair of rotocenters is 2√3 times their distance.

Hexakis triangular tiling, an example of p6 (with colors) and p6m (without); the lines are reflection axes if colors are ignored, and a special kind of symmetry axis if colors are not ignored: reflection reverts the colors. Rectangular line grids in three orientations can be distinguished.
Hexakis triangular tiling, an example of p6 (with colors) and p6m (without); the lines are reflection axes if colors are ignored, and a special kind of symmetry axis if colors are not ignored: reflection reverts the colors. Rectangular line grids in three orientations can be distinguished.

Image File history File links Hexakis_triangular_tiling. ... Image File history File links Hexakis_triangular_tiling. ... In geometry, the Hexakis triangular tiling is a tiling of the Euclidean plane. ...

See also


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