Solution of Quiz 1

~r = xî + y ĵ + z k̂
~a = ax î + ay ĵ + az k̂
(~r − ~a).~a = ~r.~a − ~a.~a = 0
So
~r.~a = ax x + ay y + az z = ~a.~a = a2x + a2y + a2z = |a|2
This is the equation of a plane, whose normal is ~a.

Basically, the vector ~r − ~a lies in a plane, and the projection of ~r in the direction of the unit
vector along the normal, i.e. ~r.â = ~r.~a/|a|, is the distance of the plane from the origin |a|.