Axisymmetry

In University Senior College Stage 2 Specialist Maths students investigated objects that have axisymmetry which is a special kind of rotational symmetry.  Axisymmetry means that every slice of the object along its axis is a point, a circle, an annulus, or a disc.  The outer surface of many ‘everyday’ objects has axisymmetry. Some examples shown here include an apple, wineglass, marker pen (but not the lid), plastic cup, the outer surface of the hourglass, and a phi top (the silver object).  Students formulate a model for the surface of their chosen object and then use integration techniques to determine its volume.