Translational symmetry
Article
Translational symmetry is the property of an object, pattern, or system remaining unchanged after being shifted by a particular distance and direction. Repeating the translation produces a regular sequence of equivalent positions.
A one-dimensional repeating pattern has translational symmetry along a line. Crystals and tilings may have two- or three-dimensional translation lattices.
In physics, continuous translational symmetry means that the laws do not depend on absolute position. Through Noether's theorem, this symmetry is associated with conservation of linear momentum.
Translational symmetry is important in geometry, crystallography, group theory, solid-state physics, periodic functions, wave propagation, and the classification of repeating structures.
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- Source / publisher: Wikipedia
- URL type: WWW
- Credits: Wikipedia
- URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translational_symmetry