23.01.2014 Views

SYMMETRIES in PHYSICS

SYMMETRIES in PHYSICS

SYMMETRIES in PHYSICS

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Symmetry and Groups: Historical Aspects<br />

Symmetry <strong>in</strong> Physics: A Short History<br />

Group Theory: First Concepts<br />

The Orig<strong>in</strong> and the Mean<strong>in</strong>g of Word: Symmetry<br />

The word symmetry (συµµɛτρια) orig<strong>in</strong>ates from the Greek<br />

language: συµ (’together’) and µɛτρων (’measure’)<br />

The implied mean<strong>in</strong>g: ’measured together’, well proportioned<br />

The mean<strong>in</strong>g has evolved <strong>in</strong> time <strong>in</strong>to: beauty, unity, harmony<br />

In sciences the first mean<strong>in</strong>g of the word symmetry was that<br />

related to proportions<br />

Todays mean<strong>in</strong>g as the equality of elements under geometrical<br />

transformations (translations, rotations, reflexions) arrived only<br />

towards the end of the Renaissance<br />

Jerzy DUDEK<br />

<strong>SYMMETRIES</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>PHYSICS</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!