Azimuthal Symmetry: Difference Between and Cylindrical Symmetry

[Telemachus]

Hi there. I have this simple conceptual question, I'm studing electrostatics, and the book speaks about azimuthal symmetry. The doubt I have is, what's the difference between azimuthal symmetry and cylindrical symmetry? I mean there is any difference between those symmetries? it looks like the same kind of symmetry to me, I can't distinguish between both, but as the books are refeered to azimuthal symmetry the thing bothers my a little bit.

I'm not sure this is the right place for posting this, if its not, please just move it to the propper section.

Bye, thanks for posting.

 

[Fellowroot]

I believe azimuthal symmetry means: rotational symmetry about the z-axis.

http://www.phys.ksu.edu/personal/wysin/ED-I/notes/chap3b.html

But that's all I know.

I would think that if you had a cylinder pointing straight up so that the z-axis goes through the center then yes by definition the cylinder would have azimuthal symmetry too, please correct me if I'm wrong anyone.

 

[dynamicsolo]

The way I've seen these terms used, these all mean pretty much the same thing:

azimuthal symmetry, cylindrical symmetry, axial symmetry .

That is, a quantity having this type of symmetry has no dependence on direction perpendicular to that axis.

 

[Telemachus]

Thanks.