Merced College; Don Power

 

Lab  1 -- Angles in a Tetrahedron                                         NAME _______________________

 

Use vectors to calculate the following angles in a tetrahedron (pyramid whose base and all sides are equilateral triangles):

 

      a.   Angle between an edge and a face.

 

      b.   Angle between two faces.

 

 

In order for you to compare your work with other students, you should all set up your figures the same:

      Length of an edge:  2

      Base in the xy-plane with a vertex at the origin and an edge along the positive x-axis.

 

 

You will need to calculate the following coordinates, and then you can find the required vectors.

      All three vertices of the base. _________________ ________________ ________________

 

 

 

      Center of the edge along the x-axis. _______________

 

 

 

      Center of the base (directly below the top of the tetrahedron). ___________________

 

 

 

      Top of the tetrahedron ___________________

 

 

 

Vectors to be used for part a (Angle between an edge and a face) ______________  _________________

 

      Angle in degrees, correct to the nearest hundredth of a degree: ____________

 

Vectors to be used for part b (Angle between two faces) __________________  ___________________

 

      Angle in degrees, correct to the nearest hundredth of a degree: ______________

 

 

Return to:  Merced College; Don Power               Updated 02/13/04 by Don Power