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 = a/ (a2 + b2 + c2)

cos = b/ (a2 + b2 + c2)

cos = 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/ a2

m = b/ a2

n = c/ a2

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 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 = 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 = (a1a2 + b1b2 + c1c2)/ ( a12 + b12 + c12) . (a22 + b22 + c22)

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. = 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 (x 1, 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).