How to Find the Angle Between Two Planes

In the figure below, you can see two planes that intersect. They are drawn as lines because we’re looking at them from the side.

How to find the angle between two planes

To find the angle between two planes, you do similar things to when you find the angle between a line and a plane. The difference is that in this case, you find the angle between the normal vectors to the planes nα and nβ. Take note of this:

  • If γ < 90°, you have the correct angle, and α = γ.

  • if γ > 90°, the real angle between the two planes is α = 180° γ.

The angle between two planes is always 90°.

Example 1

You have two planes α and β with normal vectors nα = (1, 1, 1) and nβ = (2, 3, 1). The angle between the two normal vectors is

cos γ = (1, 1, 1) (2, 3, 1) | (1, 1, 1)| |(2, 3, 1)| = 1 (2) + 1 3 + 1 1 12 + 12 + 12 (2 ) 2 + 32 + 12 = 2 + 3 + 1 3 14 = 2 42, γ = cos 1 ( 2 42) 72.02°.

As 72.02° < 90°, you have the correct angle, and α = γ = 72.02°.

Want to know more?Sign UpIt's free!