By Mr Conor Mc Cormack

Locating the
Line of
Intersection and
Dihedral angles
between two
planes
First off, what are
Planes?
A Plane;
• Is a flat surface with zero thickness.
• Has 2 Dimensions and is often called
2D.
• Can be extended an infinite distance.
• Has zero curves, but infinite width and
length
Second, what are
Intersecting
planes?
• Intersecting planes are planes
that intersect along a line as
long as they are not parallel. Line of
• They cannot intersect at Intersection
more than one line.
• This is known as the Line of Plane
Intersection (LOI).
• Hence the line of intersection
is always straight between
two planes. Plane
Identifying the
Line of
Intersection 1
2 3

1) Where is the LOI

between 1 and 2?
2) Where is the LOI
between 2 and 3?
1 2 3
 Line of Intersection

Dihedral
angles,
what are
they?
Dihedral Angle

• The dihedral angle is the true angle created between two planes.
• The two planes pass through the point view of the line of intersection.
• This angle can be found when the two planes are seen as an edge.
 How we begin to
find the Line of
intersection Two Planes
Horizontal cut/
Water mark
Create a Horizontal
Cutting plane from
anywhere on the edge of
the plane. This method is
known as the Water
Mark.

This is what we
are looking for
 B
F
(Water mark) Line of Intersection
Horizontal cutting
plane LO
I E
C
Horizontal cutting
plane from C
D A
X Y

D
F B Connect the horizontal
X1 cuts to find the Line of
LOI Intersection
C
Take the heights from X2
two views back
A Draw an Auxilary
E Perpendicular to LOI to find
Y1 True Length
T.L Take the heights from
two views back

Dihedral angle

True Length

Look along T.L of the LOI

Y2 to find Dihedral angle
B-3. The image on the left shows the structure of the Datong Art A = 135 105 30
Museum, which was recently opened to the public of China early 2022.
The roof consists of planar surfaces which intersect to offer support to the B = 115 30 110
structure.
C = 60 85 75
Fig. B-3 Below shows the Lamina of the elevation and plan of the
structure’s roof. The horizontal and vertical coordinates for the outer D = 125 110 55
points of the two planes are also given above the elevation and plan.
E = 95 30 125
(a) Complete the elevation and plan of the two intersecting planes, ABC
and DEF. F = 65 50 40

(b) Locate the line of intersection between the intersecting planes,

  D
A

applying the horizontal cutting method. C

(c) Hence, determine the dihedral angle.

F
Scale 1:1
E B

X
A
F
D

B
E
 D
A
Line of Intersection

C Horizontal cutting plane from C

LOI
Horizontal cutting plane from F
F

E B

y
X
X1
A X2
F Dihedral angles

C
LOI

Y2

T.L
Line of Intersection
B

E True Length
Y1
Activity time

• Every student will receive 2 triangle cut outs of

cardboard.
• On each triangle there will be a Dashed line to
be cut out, which represents the line of
intersection on each plane.
• Piece your model together.
• Rotate your piece to try find the Dihedral angle.
• Fill water basin with water (to represent
horizontal cutting plane). Then insert teacher’s
3D model.
• Gather around to visualise different
characteristics of 3D object within the basin.