Let O be the center of square A B C D and construct a circle centered at O whose circumference is equal to the perimeter of the square. Folding the arc of the semi-circle at a right angle, as shown above, the radius of the semicircle becomes the height of the right square pyramid.
Find the acute angle made between two adjacent faces (in degrees).
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Let point Q on P D be such that A Q and C Q are perpendicular to P D . Then ∠ A Q C = θ is the angle between the two faces of the pyramid.
Let the common perimeter be 2 π . Then the radius or the height O P = 1 and the side length the square A B C D is 2 π , B D = 2 π , O D = 2 2 π , and P D = O P 2 + O D 2 = 1 + 8 π 2 . cos ∠ P D A = P D 2 1 A D = 1 6 + 2 π 2 π ⟹ sin ∠ P D A = 1 6 + 2 π 2 1 6 + π 2 . And we have:
sin 2 θ ⟹ θ = A Q A O = A D sin ∠ P D A A O = 3 2 + 2 π 1 6 + 2 π 2 = 2 sin − 1 3 2 + 2 π 1 6 + 2 π 2 ≈ 1 1 2 . 4 2 7 4 6 6 4 7 7 ∘
Therefore the acute angle between the two faces is 1 8 0 ∘ − 1 1 2 . 4 2 7 4 6 6 4 7 7 ∘ ≈ 6 7 . 6 ∘ .
Let a be side of square base A B C D and r radius of the circle.
Let O ( 0 , 0 , 0 ) , A : ( − 2 a , − 2 a , 0 ) , B : ( − 2 a , 2 a , 0 ) , C : ( 2 a , 2 a , 0 ) , D : ( 2 a , − 2 a , 0 ) and P ( 0 , 0 , r )
B A = 0 i + a j + 0 k , B P = 2 a i + − 2 a j + r k and B C = a i + 0 j + 0 k
⟹ u = B P X B A = − a r i + 0 j + 2 a 2 k and v = B P X B C = 0 i + a j + 2 a 2 k
⟹ u ⋅ v = 4 a 4 = 4 4 a 2 r 2 + a 4 4 4 a 2 r 2 + a 4 cos ( θ ) = 4 4 a 2 r 2 + a 4 cos ( θ ) ⟹
4 a 4 = 4 a 2 ( 4 r 2 + a 2 ) cos ( θ ) ⟹ cos ( θ ) = 4 r 2 + a 2 a 2
and 4 a = 2 π r ⟹ r = π 2 a ⟹ cos ( θ ) = 1 6 + π 2 π 2 ⟹ θ = arccos ( 1 6 + π 2 π 2 ) ≈ 6 7 . 5 7 2 5 3 3 5 2 ∘ .
Nice question and solution! You may want to specify that you want the acute angle between the adjacent faces (and not the obtuse angle).
Thanks. I added acute angle.
Let E is mid point of AD, F at lateral edge PD and A F ⊥ P D , C F ⊥ P D . Then θ = ∠ A F C is dihedral angles of adjacent faces. Side length of square is a , radius of circle is r :
2 π r P E P D S △ P A D ∴ A F C F A C 2 ∴ cos θ θ = 4 a ⟹ r = π 2 a = r 2 + ( 2 a ) 2 = r 2 + 4 a 2 = r 2 + ( 2 2 a ) 2 = r 2 + 2 a 2 = 2 1 A D × P E = 2 1 A F × P D = P D A D × P E = r 2 + 2 a 2 a r 2 + 4 a 2 = A F = A F 2 + C F 2 − 2 ⋅ A F ⋅ C F ⋅ cos θ = 2 A F 2 − 2 A F 2 cos θ = 2 A F 2 A C 2 − 2 A F 2 = 2 A F 2 A C 2 − 1 = r 2 + 2 a 2 2 a 2 ( r 2 + 4 a 2 ) 2 a 2 − 1 = 4 r 2 + a 2 4 r 2 + 2 a 2 − 1 = 4 r 2 + a 2 a 2 = 4 ( π 2 ) 2 a 2 + a 2 a 2 = 1 6 + π 2 π 2 = cos − 1 1 6 + π 2 π 2 ≈ 6 7 . 5 7 °
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Let the sides of the square be l and let the radius of the circle (and the height of the pyramid) be h .
Since the circle's circumference is equal to the perimeter of the square, 4 l = 2 π h , or h = π 2 l .
The acute dihedral angle of a square pyramid with a base side of l and a height of h is:
θ = cos − 1 ( l 2 + 4 h 2 l 2 ) = cos − 1 ( l 2 + 4 ( π 2 l ) 2 l 2 ) = cos − 1 ( π 2 + 1 6 π 2 ) ≈ 6 7 . 5 7 2 5 3 3 5 2 °