PLANES

A plane, [P], can be defined by the

following geometric elements:
• three not collinear points;
• two parallel lines;
• a line and a point.
• two intersecting lines;
• In descriptive geometry the plane is specified by its
traces.
• Traces of a plane are the intersection lines of the
plane with the projection planes

W Pw
Pw
 Finding the traces of a plane specified by
two intersecting or parallel lines
• The traces of the plane are obtained joining the alike
traces of the two lines:
– the horizontal trace, Ph, is obtained joining the horizontal traces
(h1 and h2)
– the vertical trace, Pv, is obtained joining the vertical traces v1 and
v 2.
– the lateral trace, Pw, is obtained joining the lateral traces w1 and
w2
– the traces of the plane Ph and Pv, intersect in Px (OX) axis.
– the traces of the plane Pv and Pw, intersect in Pz (Oz) axis.
– the traces of the plane Ph and Pw, intersect in Py (Oy) axis.
 Finding the traces of a plane specified by 3
points
• Given the non collinear points A (a, a′), B (b, b′) and C
(c, c′),
• Through points A and B the line D1(d1, d1′) is drawn and
its horizontal H1(h1, h1′) and vertical V1(v1, v1′) traces are
found.
• Through points A and C the line D2 (d2, d2′) is drawn, its
horizontal H2(h2, h2′) and vertical V2 (v2, v2′) traces are
found
• The horizontal trace Ph is obtained joining together h1and
h2
• The vertical trace Pv is obtained joining together v1 and
v2
 Finding the traces of a plane
defined by a line and a point
• Given the line D (d, d′) and the point A (a,
a′);
• Through point A a line D1(d1, d1′) parallel to
the given line, D, is drawn
• further, it will follow the steps of the plane
determination by two parallel straight lines.
Steps to plot a plane defined by two
lines
• Given the line D1 (d1, d1′,d1′′) defined by the
points A(a,a’,a’’) and B(b,b’,b’’)
• Given the line D2 (d2, d2′,d2′′) defined by the
points C(c,c’,c’’) and E(e,e’,e’’)
• the lines intersect in point K(k,k’,k’’) or the
lines are parallel
• Find the plane [P] describe by the lines D1
and D2
1. Represent the points A(a,a’,a’’), B(b,b’,b’’),
C(c,c’,c’’) and E(e,e’,e’’)
2. Draw the line D1 (d1, d1′,d1′′)
– Join the projections points with a straight line:
• join horizontal projection a and b; the horizontal projection
of line, d1, is obtained;
• join vertical projection a’ and b’; the vertical projection of
line, d1’, is obtained;
• join lateral projection a’’ and b’’; the lateral projection of
line, d1”, is obtained.

3. Draw the line D2 (d2, d2′,d2′′)

 4. Verify if the lines intersect or are parallel !

• Two lines are parallel

in space if their
projections are
parallel to each other
• Two lines intersect if
the projections of
intersection points are
situated on the same
ordering line
5. find the traces of the two lines
– Through points A and B the line D1(d1, d1′,d1′′) is drawn and its horizontal
H1(h1, h1′ h1′′) and vertical V1(v1, v1′, v1′′) ) traces are found.
– Through points E and F the line D2 (d2, d2′ d2′′) is drawn, its horizontal
H2(h2, h2′ ,h2′′) and vertical V2 (v2, v2′, v2′′) traces are found
6. joining the
– horizontal traces (h1 and h2); the horizontal trace, Ph, is obtained
– vertical traces (v1 and v2); the vertical trace, Pv, is obtained
– profile traces (w1 and w2); the profile trace, Ph, is obtained
7. find Px, Py, and Pz .
– the traces of the plane Ph and Pv, intersect in Px (OX) axis.
– the traces of the plane Pv and Pw, intersect in Pz (Oz) axis.
– the traces of the plane Ph and Pw, intersect in Py (Oy) axis.