Angle between two planes

Questions asking to find the acute angle between two planes using the scalar product of their normal vectors.

12 questions · Standard +0.7

4.04b Plane equations: cartesian and vector forms4.04d Angles: between planes and between line and plane
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CAIE P3 2007 June Q9
10 marks Standard +0.3
9 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{8580dddb-cc72-4745-9e0f-1ac641c6506d-3_693_537_1206_804} The diagram shows a set of rectangular axes \(O x , O y\) and \(O z\), and three points \(A , B\) and \(C\) with position vectors \(\overrightarrow { O A } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 2 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{array} \right) , \overrightarrow { O B } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 2 \\ 0 \end{array} \right)\) and \(\overrightarrow { O C } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 1 \\ 2 \end{array} \right)\).
  1. Find the equation of the plane \(A B C\), giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c z = d\).
  2. Calculate the acute angle between the planes \(A B C\) and \(O A B\).
Edexcel FP3 2017 June Q5
11 marks Standard +0.3
5. The plane \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) has equation \(x - 2 y - 3 z = 5\) and the plane \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) has equation \(6 x + y - 4 z = 7\)
  1. Find, to the nearest degree, the acute angle between \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) The point \(P\) has coordinates \(( 2,3 , - 1 )\). The line \(l\) is perpendicular to \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and passes through the point \(P\). The line \(l\) intersects \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) at the point \(Q\).
  2. Find the coordinates of \(Q\). The plane \(\Pi _ { 3 }\) passes through the point \(Q\) and is perpendicular to \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\)
  3. Find an equation of the plane \(\Pi _ { 3 }\) in the form \(\mathbf { r } . \mathbf { n } = p\)
OCR FP3 2009 January Q6
13 marks Standard +0.8
6
[diagram]
The cuboid \(O A B C D E F G\) shown in the diagram has \(\overrightarrow { O A } = 4 \mathbf { i } , \overrightarrow { O C } = 2 \mathbf { j } , \overrightarrow { O D } = 3 \mathbf { k }\), and \(M\) is the mid-point of \(G F\).
  1. Find the equation of the plane \(A C G E\), giving your answer in the form \(\mathbf{r} \cdot \mathbf{n} = p\).
  2. The plane \(O E F C\) has equation \(\mathbf { r } \cdot ( 3 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { k } ) = 0\). Find the acute angle between the planes \(O E F C\) and \(A C G E\).
  3. The line \(A M\) meets the plane \(O E F C\) at the point \(W\). Find the ratio \(A W : W M\).
OCR MEI C4 2009 January Q5
8 marks Standard +0.3
5
  1. Write down normal vectors to the planes \(2 x - y + z = 2\) and \(x - z = 1\).
    Hence find the acute angle between the planes.
  2. Write down a vector equation of the line through \(( 2,0,1 )\) perpendicular to the plane \(2 x - y + z = 2\). Find the point of intersection of this line with the plane.
CAIE FP1 2007 November Q6
8 marks Standard +0.3
6 The points \(A , B\) and \(C\) have position vectors \(2 \mathbf { i } , 3 \mathbf { j }\) and \(4 \mathbf { k }\) respectively. Find a vector which is perpendicular to the plane \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) containing \(A , B\) and \(C\). The plane \(\Pi _ { 2 }\) has equation $$\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) + \mu ( \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } ) .$$ Find the acute angle between the planes \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\).
OCR MEI Further Pure Core AS 2023 June Q10
7 marks Standard +0.8
10 The plane P has normal vector \(2 \mathbf { i } + a \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k }\), where \(a\) is a positive constant, and the point ( \(3 , - 1,1\) ) lies in P . The plane \(\mathrm { x } - \mathrm { z } = 3\) makes an angle of \(45 ^ { \circ }\) with P . Find the cartesian equation of P . \section*{END OF QUESTION PAPER}
OCR MEI Further Pure Core AS 2021 November Q3
7 marks Standard +0.3
3 Three planes have the following equations. $$\begin{aligned} 2 x - 3 y + z & = - 3 \\ x - 4 y + 2 z & = 1 \\ - 3 x - 2 y + 3 z & = 14 \end{aligned}$$
    1. Write the system of equations in matrix form.
    2. Hence find the point of intersection of the planes.
  1. In this question you must show detailed reasoning. Find the acute angle between the planes \(2 x - 3 y + z = - 3\) and \(x - 4 y + 2 z = 1\).
OCR Further Pure Core 1 2018 September Q5
8 marks Standard +0.3
5 Two planes, \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\), have equations \(3 x + 2 y + z = 4\) and \(2 x + y + z = 3\) respectively.
  1. Find the acute angle between \(\Pi _ { 1 }\) and \(\Pi _ { 2 }\). The line \(L\) has equation \(x = 1 - y = 2 - z\).
  2. Show that \(L\) lies in both planes.
CAIE FP1 2015 November Q11 EITHER
Challenging +1.8
The points \(A , B\) and \(C\) have position vectors \(\mathbf { i } , 2 \mathbf { j }\) and \(4 \mathbf { k }\) respectively, relative to an origin \(O\). The point \(N\) is the foot of the perpendicular from \(O\) to the plane \(A B C\). The point \(P\) on the line-segment \(O N\) is such that \(O P = \frac { 3 } { 4 } O N\). The line \(A P\) meets the plane \(O B C\) at \(Q\). Find a vector perpendicular to the plane \(A B C\) and show that the length of \(O N\) is \(\frac { 4 } { \sqrt { } ( 21 ) }\). Find the position vector of the point \(Q\). Show that the acute angle between the planes \(A B C\) and \(A B Q\) is \(\cos ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 2 } { 3 } \right)\).
AQA Further Paper 1 2021 June Q11
12 marks Standard +0.8
The line \(L_1\) has equation \(\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ 2 \\ 3 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ 3 \\ -1 \end{pmatrix}\) The line \(L_2\) has equation \(\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix} 6 \\ 4 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} + \mu \begin{pmatrix} -2 \\ 1 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}\)
  1. Find the acute angle between the lines \(L_1\) and \(L_2\), giving your answer to the nearest 0.1° [3 marks]
  2. The lines \(L_1\) and \(L_2\) lie in the plane \(\Pi_1\)
    1. Find the equation of \(\Pi_1\), giving your answer in the form \(\mathbf{r} \cdot \mathbf{n} = d\) [4 marks]
    2. Hence find the shortest distance of the plane \(\Pi_1\) from the origin. [1 mark]
  3. The points \(A(4, -1, -1)\), \(B(1, 5, -7)\) and \(C(3, 4, -8)\) lie in the plane \(\Pi_2\) Find the angle between the planes \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\), giving your answer to the nearest 0.1° [4 marks]
OCR MEI Further Extra Pure 2021 November Q5
6 marks Challenging +1.8
A surface \(S\) is defined for \(z \geqslant 0\) by \(x^2 + y^2 + 2z^2 = 126\). \(C\) is the set of points on \(S\) for which the tangent plane to \(S\) at that point intersects the \(x\)-\(y\) plane at an angle of \(\frac{1}{4}\pi\) radians. Show that \(C\) lies in a plane, \(\Pi\), whose equation should be determined. [6]
SPS SPS FM Pure 2025 February Q4
9 marks Standard +0.3
The plane \(\Pi_1\) has equation $$\mathbf{r} = 2\mathbf{i} + 4\mathbf{j} - \mathbf{k} + \lambda (\mathbf{i} + 2\mathbf{j} - 3\mathbf{k}) + \mu(-\mathbf{i} + 2\mathbf{j} + \mathbf{k})$$ where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are scalar parameters.
  1. Find a Cartesian equation for \(\Pi_1\) [4]
The line \(l\) has equation $$\frac{x-1}{5} = \frac{y-3}{-3} = \frac{z+2}{4}$$
  1. Find the coordinates of the point of intersection of \(l\) with \(\Pi_1\) [3]
The plane \(\Pi_2\) has equation $$\mathbf{r}.(2\mathbf{i} - \mathbf{j} + 3\mathbf{k}) = 5$$
  1. Find, to the nearest degree, the acute angle between \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\) [2]