Circular symmetry

Circular symmetry in mathematical physics applies to a 2-dimensional field which can be expressed as a function of distance from a central point only.^{[citation needed]} This means that all points on each circle take the same value.

An example would be magnetic field intensity in a plane perpendicular to a current-carrying wire. A pattern with circular symmetry would consist of concentric circles.

The 3-dimensional equivalent term is spherical symmetry. A scalar field has spherical symmetry if it depends on the distance to the origin only, such as the potential of a central force. A vector field has spherical symmetry if it is in radially inward or outward direction with a magnitude and orientation (inward/outward)^{[citation needed]} depending on the distance to the origin only, such as a central force.

See also

• Rotational symmetry
• Particle in a spherically symmetric potential
• Gauss's theorem