What is “Symmetry” in Physics?

Question

I understand the concept of symmetry in geometry, but what do theoretical physicists mean when they speak of symmetry?

In: 15

Answer 1

3 symmetrys:

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1. Charge symmetry: We have matter and anti-matter. Our universe is made of what we called “matter” and not antimatter. But the universe should work just fine if everything was anti-matter instead.
2. Parity symmetry: This is about mirroring the 3 physical axises.
3. Time symmetry. Basically it should be possible to have a universe where time went the opposite way.

Each of these symmetries have actually been broken. A “fix” to this is supersymmetry that says that all three symmetries cannot be broken together.