Axial symmetry

Axial symmetry is symmetry around an axis; an object is axially symmetric if its appearance is unchanged if rotated around an axis. For example, a baseball bat without trademark or other design, or a plain white tea saucer, looks the same if it is rotated by any angle about the line passing lengthwise through its center, so it is axially symmetric.

A surface of revolution has axial symmetry around an axis in 3-dimensions.

Discrete axial symmetry, order 5, in a pentagonal prism

Axial symmetry can also be discrete with a fixed angle of rotation, 360°/n for n-fold symmetry.

See also

• Axiality (geometry)
• Circular symmetry
• Reflection symmetry
• Rotational symmetry has a more general discussion
• Chiral symmetry describes the use in quantum mechanics