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© Christine Crisp
The Vector Equation of a Plane
Module C4
MEI/OCR
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The Vector Equation of a Plane
There are 3 forms of the equation of a plane. We
are going to look at 2 of them.
Suppose we have a vector n through a point A.
A R
x Suppose R is any point
x
on the plane ( other
than A ).
n Then, n . AR 0
n . (r a ) 0
This is the equation of the plane since it is
satisfied by the position vector of any point on
the plane, including A.
The scalar product can be expanded to give
n.r n.a 0 n.r n.a
The Vector Equation of a Plane
It is useful in some problems to know that a vector
n will be perpendicular to the plane if it is
perpendicular to 2 non-parallel vectors in the plane.
A
x xC
There
are an infinite number of vectors perpendicular
to AC. For example, one lies on the plane.
The Vector Equation of a Plane
It is useful in some problems to know that a vector
n will be perpendicular to the plane if it is
perpendicular to 2 non-parallel vectors in the plane.
A
x xC
There
are an infinite number of vectors perpendicular
to AC. For example, one lies on the plane.
Others lie at angles to the plane.
Only one is also perpendicular to AB.
The Vector Equation of a Plane
It is useful in some problems to know that a vector
n will be perpendicular to the plane if it is
perpendicular to 2 non-parallel vectors in the plane.
A
x xC
B x
There
are an infinite number of vectors perpendicular
to AC. For example, one lies on the plane.
Others lie at angles to the plane.
Only one is also perpendicular to AB.
This one is perpendicular to the plane.
The Vector Equation of a Plane
1 x
3 . y 9
2 z
Calculating the left-hand scalar product gives the
Cartesian form of the equation.
x 3 y 2z 9
The Vector Equation of a Plane
2 2 2 2 0
n 1 a 3 AB b a 3 3 6
6 1 2 1 1
2 1
b 3 c 1 1 2 1
AC c a 1 3 2
2 1
1 1 0
2
2 1
So, 0
n . AB 1 . 6 0 , n . AC 1 . 2 0
6
1 6 0
n is perpendicular to 2 vectors in the plane so is
perpendicular to the plane.
The Vector Equation of a Plane
SUMMARY
The vector equation of a plane is given by
n . ( r a ) 0 or n.r n.a
where a is the position vector of a fixed point on
the plane
n is a vector perpendicular to the plane and
r is the position vector of any point on the plane.
The Cartesian form is
n1 x n2 y n3 z d
where n1, n2 and n3 are the components of n and
d n.a
n is called the normal vector
The Vector Equation of a Plane
Exercise
1. Find a vector equation of the plane through
the point A(4, 3, 2) with normal vector
1
n 2
3
2. Find the Cartesian equation of the plane through
the point A(1, 1, 1) perpendicular to the vector
0
n2
1
The Vector Equation of a Plane
1. Plane through the point A(4, 3, 2) with normal
vector
1
n 2
3
Solution:
n.r n.a
1 1 4 1
2 . r 2 . 3 2 . r 8
3 3 2 3
The Vector Equation of a Plane
2. Find the Cartesian equation of the plane through
the point A(1, 1, 1) perpendicular to the vector
0
n2
1
Solution:
0 0 1 0
n . r n . a 2 . r 2 . 1 2 . r 1
1 1 1 1
0 x
2 . y 1 2 y z 1
1 z
The Vector Equation of a Plane
Exercise 3
3. Show that n 0 is perpendicular to the plane
1
containing the points A(1, 0, 2), B(2, 3, 1) and C(2, 2, 1 ).
Solution:
2 1 1 2 1 1
AB 3 0 3 AC 2 0 2
1
2 3 1 2 3
3 1
3 1
n . AB 0 . 3 0 , n . AC 0 . 2 0
1
3 1 3
n is perpendicular to 2 vectors in the plane so is
perpendicular to the plane.
The Intersection of a Line and a Plane
1. x 3 1 x 2
L: y 2 t 4 : y . 3 33
z 1 3 z 1
Solution:
Subs. in : 3 t 2
2 4t . 3 33
1 3t 1
6 2t 6 12t 1 3t 33
11 t 22 t2
The Intersection of a Line and a Plane
t2
Subs. in L : x 3 1
y 2 2 4
z
1 3
x 5
y 10
z 7
Coordinates are ( 5 , 10 , 7 )
The Intersection of a Line and a Plane
2. How can you tell that the following line L and
plane don’t intersect?
x 1 1 x 2
L: y 2 t 3 : y . 1 4
z 1 1 z 5
Solution: If we form the A
scalar product of the normal x
vector of the plane . . .
and the direction vector 2 1
1 p 3
of the line . . . n
5 1
the result is zero showing
they are perpendicular.
The line and plane can only intersect if the line lies
on the plane. Since (1, 2, 1) is on the line but not on
the plane, the line and plane do not intersect.
Finding Angles
The Angle between a Line and a Plane
We use the scalar product with
• the direction vector of the line and
• the normal of the plane.
n. p
cos
A np
x
( find the acute angle )
p BUT the angle we
n want is
90
Tip: It’s easy to confuse the procedure
for finding angles in the different
situations so I always do a sketch.
Finding Angles
The angle between 2 planes
These lines . . .
are perpendicular to
the line of intersection
of the planes.
Finding Angles
The angle between 2 planes
Finding Angles
The angle between 2 planes
n2
n1 n1 . n 2
cos
n1 n2
5
cos 52
38
2 33
Finding Angles
Solutions:
2. x 4 x 2
1 : y . 1 4 2 : y . 3 3
z 1 z 0
n1 . n 2
cos
n2 n1 n2
5
n1 cos
18 13
109
n . ( r a ) 0 or n.r n.a
where a is the position vector of a fixed point on
the plane
n is a vector perpendicular to the plane and
r is the position vector of any point on the plane.
The Cartesian form is
n1 x n2 y n3 z d
where n1, n2 and n3 are the components of n and
d n.a
n is called the normal vector
The Vector Equation of a Plane
e.g.1 Find the equation of the plane through the
1
point A(2, 3, 1) perpendicular to .
3
Solution: 2
1 x 1 2
n.r n.a 3 . y 3 . 3
2 z 2 1
1 x 1 x
3 . y 2 9 2 3 . y 9
2 z 2 z
Calculating the left-hand scalar product gives the
Cartesian form of the equation.
x 3 y 2z 9
The Vector Equation of a Plane
The Angle between a Line and a Plane
We use the scalar product with
• the direction vector of the line and
• the normal of the plane.
n. p
cos
A np
x
( find the acute angle )
p BUT the angle we
n want is
90
Tip: It’s easy to confuse the procedure
for finding angles in the different
situations so I always do a sketch.
The Vector Equation of a Plane
The angle between 2 planes
n2
n1 n1 . n 2
cos
n1 n2