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ACTIVITY NO - 11

TOPIC:
“THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRY”

OBJECTIVE :

“To demonstrate the equation of a plane in normal form.”

MATERIAL REQUIRED :

1. Two pieces of plywood of size10 cm × 12 cm,

2. a thin wooden rod with nuts and bolts fixed on both sides,

3. 3 pieces of wires, pen/pencil.

4. White Paper & Graph Paper

5. Geometry Box

6. Scale, Pencil/ Pen.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION :

1. Fix the wooden rod in between two wooden pieces with nuts and bolts so that the rod is

perpendicular to the two wooden pieces. So, it represents the normal to the plane.

2. Take three wires and fix, them as shown in Fig. 11.1 so that ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐎𝐏 represents the vector 𝐚⃗

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ represents 𝒓
and 𝐎𝐀 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ represents the vector ( 𝒓
⃗ . Then the wire PA ⃗ -𝒂
⃗ ).
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Fig -11.1
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DEMONSTRATION :
⃗ ). lies on plane 1. On representing 𝐧
⃗ -𝒂
1. The wire PA, i.e., the vector ( 𝒓 ⃗ as
normal to plane 1, 𝐧⃗ _ is perpendicular to ( 𝒓⃗ - 𝒂
⃗ ) normal to the plane.
⃗ ). 𝒏
⃗ -𝒂
2. Hence ( 𝒓 ⃗ = 0, which gives the equation of plane in the normal form.

OBSERVATION:

⃗ is the position vector of point P,

1. 𝐚

𝐫 is the position vector of point A ,

vector ⃗𝒏 is perpendicular to the vector plane 1.

⃗ ). 𝒏
⃗ -𝒂
2. ( 𝒓 ⃗ = 0 is the equation of the plane 1, in Normal form.

APPLICATION:
This activity can also be utilised to show the position vector of a point in space

(i.e., 𝑎 as position vector of O, 𝐫 the position vector of A).

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