PlanetMath (more info)
 Math for the people, by the people. Sponsor PlanetMath
Encyclopedia | Requests | Forums | Docs | Wiki | Random | RSS  
Login
create new user
name:
pass:
forget your password?
Main Menu
Revision difference : intersection of sphere and plane
Version 5 Version 4
\textbf{Theorem.}\, The intersection curve of a sphere and a plane is a circle. \textbf{Theorem.}\, The intersection curve of a sphere and a plane is a circle.
{\em Proof.}\, We prove the theorem without the equation of the sphere.\, Let $c$ be the intersection curve, $r$ the radius of the sphere and $OQ$ be the distance of the centre $O$ of the sphere and the plane.\, If $P$ is an arbitrary point of $c$, then $OPQ$ is a right triangle.\, By the Pythagorean theorem, {\em Proof.}\, We prove the theorem without the equation of the sphere.\, Let $c$ be the intersection curve, $r$ the radius of the sphere and $OQ$ be the distance of the centre $O$ of the sphere and the plane.\, If $P$ is an arbitrary point of $c$, then $OPQ$ is a right triangle.\, By the Pythagorean theorem,
$$PQ = \varrho = \sqrt{r^2\!-\!OQ^2} = \mbox{\;constant}.$$ $$PQ = \varrho = \sqrt{r^2\!-\!OQ^2} = \mbox{\;constant}.$$
Thus any point of the curve $c$ is in the plane at a \PMlinkescapetext{constant} distance $\varrho$ from the point $Q$, whence $c$ is a circle. Thus any point of the curve $c$ is in the plane at a \PMlinkescapetext{constant} distance $\varrho$ from the point $Q$, whence $c$ is a circle.
\begin{center} \begin{center}
\begin{pspicture}(-3.2,-2.5)(3.5,3.5) \begin{pspicture}(-3.2,-2.5)(3.5,3.5)
\pscircle[linecolor=blue](0,0){3} \pscircle[linecolor=blue](0,0){3}
\psdots(0,0)(0,1.23) \psdots(0,0)(0,1.23)
\psdot[linecolor=blue](-2.41,0.95) \psdot[linecolor=blue](-2.41,0.95)
\psline[linestyle=dashed](0,0)(0,0.6) \psline[linestyle=dashed](0,0)(0,0.6)
\psline[linestyle=dotted](0,0.75)(0,1.23) \psline[linestyle=dotted](0,0.75)(0,1.23)
\psline[linestyle=dashed](0,1.23)(-2.41,0.95) \psline[linestyle=dashed](0,1.23)(-2.41,0.95)
\psline[linestyle=dashed](0,0)(-2.41,0.95) \psline[linestyle=dashed](0,0)(-2.41,0.95)
\psline(0,1.09)(-0.12,1.07) \psline(0,1.09)(-0.12,1.07)
\psline(-0.12,1.07)(-0.12,1.22) \psline(-0.12,1.07)(-0.12,1.22)
\psellipse[linecolor=blue](0,1.23)(2.7,0.6) \psellipse[linecolor=blue](0,1.23)(2.7,0.6)
\rput(0.3,0){$O$} \rput(0.3,0){$O$}
\rput(2,0.68){$c$} \rput(2,0.68){$c$}
\rput(-2.45,0.68){$P$} \rput(-2.45,0.68){$P$}
\rput(0.3,1.23){$Q$} \rput(0.3,1.23){$Q$}
\rput(-1.1,0.22){$r$} \rput(-1.1,0.22){$r$}
\rput(-1.1,1.28){$\varrho$} \rput(-1.1,1.28){$\varrho$}
\psdot[linecolor=white](-3.1,-3.1) \psdot[linecolor=white](0,-3.1)
\psdot[linecolor=white](-3.1,3.1) \psdot[linecolor=white](0,+3.1)
\psdot[linecolor=white](3.1,3.1) \psdot[linecolor=white](3.1,0)
\psdot[linecolor=white](3.1,-3.1))
\end{pspicture} \end{pspicture}
\end{center} \end{center}