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SYMMETRIES in PHYSICS

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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:<br />

’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>

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