SPHERE

A sphere is the locus of a point which remains at a constant distance from a fixed point.

The constant distance is called radius and the fixed point the centre of the sphere.

THE EQUATION OF THE SPHERE WHOSE CENTRE IS AND RADIUS , is

PROOF: Let O be the centre and radius .

So the distance between the points O and P =

GENERAL EQUATION: The equation represents a sphere

whose centre is and radius is .

PROOF: ..(1)

Or

Or

Or

Or .(2)

Comparing the equation (2) with , we have

 and

Hence the the centre of the sphere is and radius

Example1: Find the equation of the sphere whose centre is and radius is 4.

Solution: The equation of the sphere whose centre is and radius r ;

Thus the equation of the sphere whose centre is and radius 4 ;

Or

Or

IF EXTREMITIES OF DIAMETER OF A SPHERE ARE GIVEN::If the extremities of diameter of a sphere are
and , then the equation of the sphere is

PROOF:

Let and be the extremities of the diameter of a sphere and be any

point on the sphere.

The direction ratios of the two mutually perpendicular chords are

Thus by the condition of perpendicularity , we get

Example2: Prove that the equation of the sphere described on the line joining the points
and as diameter is

Solution: The equation of the sphere, the extremities of whose diameter are and
, is .

Here and

Thus the required equation of the sphere is

Or

Or Q.E.D.

PLANE SECTION OF A SPHERE IS A CIRCLE: Thus the equation

and taken together represent a circle.

PROOF: Let O be the centre of the sphere and radius R.

Let P be a common point on the sphere and given plane.

Draw OC perpendicular to the plane. So it is also perpendicular to CP.

Or

Or

Hence the locus of the point P is a circle whose centre is C and radius .
N.B. The section of a sphere by a plane through its centre is called a The centre and
radius of a great circle are the same as those of the sphere.

SPHERE THROUGH A GIVEN CIRCLE:

The equation of a sphere through a given circle

..(1)

..(2)

is given by (3)

(i) The co-ordinates of the point which satisfy the equation (1) and (2) also satisfy (3). Thus
(3) passes through (1) and (2).
(ii) The equation (3) is the second degree equation with equal coefficients of and
there is no term involving

Thus the equation (3) represents a sphere.

Example3: Find the equation to a sphere which passes through the circle

and through the point

Solution: The equation of any sphere passing through the given circle is

(1)

Since (1) passes through the point , therefore

Substituting the obtained value of k in (1), we get

THE EQUATION OF THE TANGENT PLANE: The tangent plane at T(a,b,c) on the sphere
is

PROOF:

.(1)

The centre of the sphere (1) is .

D.Rs of OT ;

D.Rs of PT ;

Since OT is perpendicular to PT, therefore by the condition of perpendicularity

Or

Adding on both the sides, we get