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Related Concept Videos

Symmetry01:26

Symmetry

The equation of an ellipse centered at the origin defines all points whose distances from the center maintain a constant ratio between the horizontal and vertical axes. This equation results in a smooth, closed curve that extends further along the x-axis than the y-axis, giving it a horizontal orientation. Such an ellipse demonstrates three kinds of symmetry: across the x-axis, across the y-axis, and about the origin. These symmetries are essential in understanding the graph's structure and...
Eccentric Axial Loading in a Plane of Symmetry01:16

Eccentric Axial Loading in a Plane of Symmetry

Eccentric axial loading occurs when an axial load is applied away from the centroidal axis of a structural member. This scenario is common in engineering, where structural elements may not be directly aligned due to various design or functional requirements.
Gauss's Law: Planar Symmetry01:27

Gauss's Law: Planar Symmetry

A planar symmetry of charge density is obtained when charges are uniformly spread over a large flat surface. In planar symmetry, all points in a plane parallel to the plane of charge are identical with respect to the charges. Suppose the plane of the charge distribution is the xy-plane, and the electric field at a space point P with coordinates (x, y, z) is to be determined. Since the charge density is the same at all (x, y) - coordinates in the z = 0 plane, by symmetry, the electric field at P...
Symmetry Elements in a Crystal01:27

Symmetry Elements in a Crystal

Crystal symmetry operations are isometric transformations that map objects onto indistinguishable copies while preserving distances, angles, and volumes. The simplest symmetry operation is translation, which shifts the entire infinite crystal lattice parallelly by a translation vector.Crystallographic rotations involve rotations by an angle of 2π/n around an axis without changing the positions of points on the axis. It is called the rotational axis of the symmetry, denoted by n. The combination...
Gauss's Law: Cylindrical Symmetry01:20

Gauss's Law: Cylindrical Symmetry

A charge distribution has cylindrical symmetry if the charge density depends only upon the distance from the axis of the cylinder and does not vary along the axis or with the direction about the axis. In other words, if a system varies if it is rotated around the axis or shifted along the axis, it does not have cylindrical symmetry. In real systems, we do not have infinite cylinders; however, if the cylindrical object is considerably longer than the radius from it that we are interested in,...
Symmetric Member in Bending01:07

Symmetric Member in Bending

In the study of the mechanics of materials, analyzing the behavior of prismatic members under opposing couples is crucial for understanding internal stress distributions, which are essential for structural design. When subjected to couples, a prismatic member experiences internal forces that maintain equilibrium. A couple, characterized by two equal and opposite forces, creates a moment but no resultant force. The internal forces at any section cut of the member must balance these external...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Shrinkage of Dental Composite in Simulated Cavity Measured with Digital Image Correlation
08:45

Shrinkage of Dental Composite in Simulated Cavity Measured with Digital Image Correlation

Published on: July 21, 2014

Concavities count for less in symmetry perception.

Johan Hulleman1, Christian N L Olivers

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Hull, Hull, England. j.hulleman@hull.ac.uk

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|January 31, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Convexities, or protrusions, are more critical for shape perception than concavities (indentations). Our study shows shape asymmetry is easier to detect when convexities mismatch, suggesting concavities primarily define object parts.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Visual Perception
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • The role of object features in shape perception is debated.
  • Convexities and concavities are key features influencing how shapes are perceived.
  • Previous research suggests differing salience and importance for these features.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relative importance of convexities versus concavities in shape perception.
  • To determine which feature type is more critical for symmetry detection.
  • To clarify the functional role of concavities in representing object shape.

Main Methods:

  • Participants detected asymmetry in 2-D silhouettes.
  • Mismatches were introduced in either convexities or concavities relative to an axis of symmetry.
  • The location of features relative to the axis of symmetry was varied.

Main Results:

  • Asymmetry detection was easier when convexities mismatched compared to concavities.
  • This effect persisted even when concavities were closest to the axis of symmetry.
  • The usual bias towards the axis of symmetry did not alter this finding.

Conclusions:

  • Convexities play a more significant role in determining perceived shape than concavities.
  • Concavities appear to function primarily as part boundaries rather than shape determinants.
  • The shape of concavities is less crucial for symmetry perception.