Regular Tetrahedron Angle Problems: Finding Angles between Planes and Lines

  • Thread starter Michael_Light
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In summary, the problem asks for the angle between the plane ABEF and the plane CDEF in a regular tetrahedron. The planes ABEF and CDEF are equivalent to planes ABF and CDE, respectively. To solve this, the coordinates of three points on each plane can be found and used to calculate the normals to the planes. The angle between the normals can then be found, giving the angle between the two planes.
  • #1
Michael_Light
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Homework Statement



ABCD is a regular tetrahedron, i.e. its sides are of equal length. E and F are the mid-points of AB and CD respectively. Find the angle between

a) the plane ABEF and the plane CDEF
b) the plane ABEF and the line AC
c)the line AC and the line EF

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



For (a), does plane ABEF same as plane ABF while plane CDEF same as CDE?

Can anyone give me some hints? Thank you.
 
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  • #2
Michael_Light said:

Homework Statement



ABCD is a regular tetrahedron, i.e. its sides are of equal length. E and F are the mid-points of AB and CD respectively. Find the angle between

a) the plane ABEF and the plane CDEF
b) the plane ABEF and the line AC
c)the line AC and the line EF

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



For (a), does plane ABEF same as plane ABF while plane CDEF same as CDE?

Yes to both of those questions. I would work this problem by finding the coordinates of the three points you have used for each plane, calculating the normals to the planes and finding the angle between the normals.
 

Related to Regular Tetrahedron Angle Problems: Finding Angles between Planes and Lines

1. What is a regular tetrahedron?

A regular tetrahedron is a three-dimensional shape with four equilateral triangular faces. It is one of the five platonic solids, and all of its edges and angles are equal in length and measure.

2. How do you find the angles between planes and lines in a regular tetrahedron?

To find the angles between planes and lines in a regular tetrahedron, you can use trigonometric formulas and geometric principles. One method is to find the angle between two intersecting planes by finding the angle between their normal vectors. To find the angle between a line and a plane, you can use the dot product formula.

3. What are the properties of a regular tetrahedron?

In addition to having four equilateral triangular faces, a regular tetrahedron also has six edges and four vertices. Its dihedral angle (angle between two faces) is 70.53 degrees, and its solid angle (angle formed by three intersecting edges at a vertex) is 109.47 degrees.

4. How can I visualize regular tetrahedron angle problems?

One way to visualize regular tetrahedron angle problems is to use a three-dimensional graphing calculator or software. You can also draw out the tetrahedron on paper and label the angles and lines to better understand the problem.

5. What are some real-world applications of regular tetrahedron angle problems?

Regular tetrahedrons can be found in many natural and man-made structures, such as crystals, molecules, and architectural designs. Understanding the angles between planes and lines in these structures can help in fields such as chemistry, physics, and engineering.

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