3D Geometry

The topic of three dimensional geometry is

quite important and a bit complicated as
compared to its counterpart two dimensional
geometry. One of the ways of describing a 3D
object is by approximating or assuming its
shape as a mesh of triangles. A triangle is
generally defined by three vertices wherein
the positions of the vertices are described by
the coordinates x, y and z.
The major heads that are included in 3D
coordinate geometry are the direction ratios
and direction cosines of a line segment.
What do We mean by Direction Cosines of a Line
Segment?
The direction cosines are the cosines of the angles
between a line and the coordinate axis. If we have
a vector (a, b, c) in three dimensional space, then
the direction cosines of the vector are defined as
cos α = a/ √(a2 + b2 + c2)
cos β = b/ √(a2 + b2 + c2)
cos γ = c/ √(a2 + b2 + c2)
What are Direction Ratios?
If l, m and n are the direction cosines then the
direction ratios say a, b and c are given by
l = ± a/√ Σa2

m = ± b/√
Σa2

n = ± c/√ Σa2

Some Key Points:

 While the direction cosines of a line segment are
always unique, the direction ratios are never
unique and in fact they can be infinite in number.
 If the direction cosines of a line are l, m and n then
they satisfy the relation l2 + m2 + n2 = 1.
 If the direction cosines of a line segment AB are (l,
m, n) then those of line BA will be (-l, -m, -n).
Angle Between two lines
Let us assume that θ is the angle between the two lines
say AB and AC whose direction cosines are l1, m1 and
n1 and l2, m2 and n2 then
cos θ = l1l2 + m1m2 + n1n2
Also if the direction ratios of two lines a1, b1 and c1 and
a2, b2 and c2 then the angle between two lines is given
by
cos θ = (a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2)/ √( a12 + b12 + c12) . √ (a22 +
b22 + c 22)

whAt is the Condition for PArAllel or

PerPendiCulAr lines?
When the two lines are perpendicular, the angle between the lines is
90° which gives the condition of perpendicularity as

l1l2 + m1m2 + n1n2 = 0

or this implies a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2 = 0.

Similarly, when the two lines are parallel, the angle between them
i.e. θ = 0.

This gives l1/l2 = m1/m2 = n1/n2

This also gives a1/a2 = b1/b2 = c1/c2

What is the projection of a line segment on a
given line?
Suppose we have a line segment joining the
points P (x1, y1, z1) and Q(x2, y2, z2), then the
projection of this line on another line having
direction cosines as l, m, n is AB = l(x2-x1) +
m + m(y2-y1) + n(z2-z1).