Sphere

Definition: A sphere is the locus of a point which remains at a constant distance from a
fixed point. The fixed point is called the centre and the constant distance is the radius
of the sphere.
Let C(x 0 , y0 , z0 ) be the centre and r be the radius of a sphere S. Consider a point

P(x, y, z) on the sphere. Then the equation of the sphere is given by

(x  x 0 )2  (y  y0 )2  (z  z0 )2  r 2 - (1)
If the center of the sphere is the origin the the equation is
x 2  y2  z 2  r 2 .
General equation:
Expanding (1), we get x 2  y2  z2  2x 0 x  2y0 y  2z 0z  x 02  y02  z 02  r 2

This equation is of the form x 2  y2  z2  2ux  2vy  2wz  d  0 -(2)

where u  x 0 , v   y0 , w  z0 , d  x 02  y02  z 02  r 2 .

Since C(x 0 , y0 , z0 ) is the centre and r is the radius of the sphere (2) represents the

equation of the sphere whose center is (u, v, w) and radius is u 2  v2  w 2  d .
Example 1. Find the equation of the sphere whose centre is (3,-1,4) and which
passes through the point (1,-2,0).
Solution. Since (3,-1,4) is the centre, equation is (x  3)2  (y  1)2  (z  4)2  r 2
The sphere passes through the point (1,-2,0), we have
(1  3)2  (2  1)2  (0  4)2  r 2

⟹ r  21
The required equation is (x  3)2  (y  1)2  (z  4)2  21 .

2. Obtain the equation of the sphere which passes through the points (1,0,0), (0,1,0),
(0,0,1) and which has its centre on the plane x  y  z  6 .

Solution. Let x 2  y2  z2  2ux  2vy  2wz  d  0 be the required equation. Since it

passes through the given points, we have
1  2u  d  0
1  2v  d  0
1  2w  d  0
1
⟹ u  v  w   (d  1) .
2
Its centre lies on the plane x  y  z  6 .
u  v  w  6 ⟹d=3.
Required equation is
x 2  y2  z 2  4x  4y  4z  3  0

3. a) Find the equation of the sphere which has (x1 , y1 , z1 ) and (x 2 , y2 , z 2 ) as the
extremities of a diameter.
b) Find the equation of the sphere having the points (2,1,-3) and (1,-2,4) as the
ends of a diameter Find its centre and radius.

Solution. Consider a point P(x,y,z) on the sphere S having the points A (x1 , y1 , z1 ) and

B (x 2 , y2 , z 2 ) as the extrimities of a diameter. Then AP and BP are at right angles. The

direction ratios of AP are (x  x1 , y  y1 , z  z1 ) and those of BP are (x  x 2 , y  y2 , z  z 2 )

.
D

A B
C

 (x  x1 )(x  x 2 )  (y  y1 )(y  y2 )  (z  z1 )(z  z 2 )  0 is the required equation of the

sphere.
b) Given A=(2,1,-3), B= (1,-2,4)
Equation is (x  2)(x 1)  (y 1)(y  2)  (z  3)(z  4)  0 .

⟹ x 2  y2  z2  3x  y  z  12  0
  3 1 1 
Centre=  u,  v,  w    , ,  .
2 2 2

59
And radius= u 2  v2  w 2  d = .
2

Intersection of a plane and a sphere:

Figure

Section of a sphere by a plane is a base circle and the section of a sphere by a plane
through its centre is called a great circle.
The equations x 2  y2  z2  2ux  2vy  2wz  d  0
And
Ax  By  Cz  D  0 taken together represents a circle. Having center M and the radius

MA  r 2  p2 .

Sphere through a circle of intersection

The equation of a sphere that passes through the circle of intersection of the sphere and
the plane is given by S+kT=0 where S=0 is the equation of the sphere and T=0 is the
equation of the plane.

Example 1. Find the centre, the radius and the area of the circle
x 2  y2  z 2  2y  4z  11 , x  2y  2z  15 .
Solution. Centre of the sphere, C  (0,1, 2)
And radius, r  1  4  11
Let M(x1 , y1 , z1 ) be the centre of the circle. Then the direction ratios of CM are

(x1 , y1  1, z1  2)
Since CM is perpendicular to the plane
x1 y1  1 z1  2
  t
1 2 2
⟹ M  (x1 , y1 , z1 )  (t, 2t  1, 2t  2)

Since M lies on the given plane, we have

x1  2y1  2z1  15

⟹ t  4t  2  4t  4  15
⟹ t=1
 M  (1,3, 4) and p  1 4  4

Radius of the circle= 42  32  7

Area of the circle = M2  7 .

2. Find the equation of the sphere that passes through the circle
x 2  y2  z2  2x  3y  4z  8  0 , x  2y  z  8  0 and has its centre on the plane
4x  5y  z  3  0 .

Solution. Equation of a sphere is x 2  y2  z2  2x  3y  4z  8  k(x  2y  z  8)  0

 k 3 k
Centre= (u, v, w)  1  ,  k, 2  
 2 2 2
Since the centre lies on the plane 4x  5y  z  3  0 , we have

 k 3   k
4 1    5   k    2    3  0
 2 2   2
9
⟹k 
13
Required equation of a sphere is 13(x 2  y2  z2  2x  3y  4z  8)  9(x  2y  z  8)  0 .
3. Find the equation of the sphere having the circle x 2  y2  z2  10y  4z  8  0 ,
x  y  z  3 as a great circle.
Solution. The equation of the sphere passing through the given circle is
x 2  y2  z2  10y  4z  8)  k(x  y  z  3)  0
The given circle is a great circle of this sphere if the centre of the sphere and the
centre of the circle coincide. This is possible if the centre of the sphere lies in the
plane x  y  z  3 of the given circle.

 k k k
Center of the sphere is  , 5  , 2   .
 2 2 2
k k k
This centre lies on the plane if 5  2  3
2 2 2
⟹ k  4
Equation of the sphere is
x 2  y2  z2  4x  6y  8z  4  0

Exercise.
1.Show that the plane x  2y  z  3 cuts the sphere x 2  y2  z 2  x  z  2  0 in a circle
of radius unity. Also find the equation of the sphere which has this circle as a great
circle.

2. Find the spheres passing through the circle x 2  y2  z2  6x  2z  5  0 , y  0 and

touching the plane 3y  4z  5  0 .

Orthogonal spheres:
Two spheres are said to be Orthogonal if the tangent planes at a point of intersection
are at right angles. The radii of such spheres through their point of intersection P being
perpendicular to the tangent planes at P are also at right angles.
Figure

Thus the spheres cut orthogonally , if the square of the distance between their centers
equal to the sum of the squares of their radii.

 C1C2   r12  r2 2
2

1 . Show that the condition for the spheres x 2  y2  z 2  2u1x  2v1y  2w1z  d1  0

and x 2  y2  z2  2u 2 x  2v2 y  2w 2z  d 2  0 to cut orthogonally is

2u1u 2  2v1v2  2w1w 2  d1  d 2 .

Solution : The centers of the sphere are C1  (u1 , v1 , w1 ) , C2  (u 2 , v2 , w 2 ) and

r1  u12  v12  w12  d1 , r2  u 22  v22  w 22  d 2

 C1C2   r12  r2 2
2
Spheres will cut orthogonally if
.
(u1  u 2 )2  (v1  v2 )2  (w1  w 2 )2  u12  v12  w12  d1  u 22  v22  w 22  d 2
⟹
Simplifying, 2u1u 2  2v1v2  2w1w 2  d1  d 2 is the required condition.

Tangent plane to a sphere:

A plane q touches a sphere S if the perpendicular distance of the centre C of S from q
is equal to the radius r of S. Then q is called a tangent plane to S.

Equation of the sphere S is x 2  y2  z2  2ux  2vy  2wz  d  0 , C  (u, v, w) . Let

A  (x1 , y1 , z1 ) be the point of contact between S and q.

Then the direction ratios of CA= (x1  u, y1  v, z1  w) . Consider any point P(x,y,z) in the

tangent plane . The the direction ratios of AP  (x  x1 , y  y1 , z  z1 ) .

Since the radius CA is perpendicular to q, we have
(x  x1 )(x1  u)  (y  y1 )(y1  v)  (z  z1 )(z1  w)  0

⟹ xx1  yy1  zz1  u(x  x1 )  v(y  y1 )  w(z  z1 )  x 21  y 21  z 21

Since the point A lies on S, we have

x 21  y21  z 21  2ux1  2vy1  2wz1  d

⟹ xx1  yy1  zz1  u(x  x1 )  v(y  y1 )  w(z  z1 )  2ux1  2vy1  2wz1  d

⟹ xx1  yy1  zz1  u(x  x1 )  v(y  y1 )  w(z  z1 )  d  0

This is the equation of the tangent plane q to S at the point A  (x1 , y1 , z1 ) .

Example 1. Find the equation of the tangent plane at a point (1, 2,  2) to the sphere

x 2  y2  z 2  2x  6y  0 .
Solution. (u, v, w)  (1, 3,0) , d=0
Equation of the tangent plane is x  2y  2z  (x  1)  3(y  2)  0
⟹ y  2z  7  0 .

2. Find the tangent planes to the sphere x 2  y2  z2  4x  2y  6z  5  0 which are

parallel to the plane 2x  2y  z  0 .
Solution. Any plane parallel to the given plane is 2x  2y  z  k  0
This plane is a tangent plane to the given sphere S if the perpendicular distance p of
the centre C of S is equal to the radius r of S.
C  (2, 1,3), r  4 1  9  5  3

4 23 k k 1
p 
4  4 1 3

k 1
 p  r if =3
3
⟹ k  1  9, k  10 or -8.
Equation of the tangent plane are 2x  2y  z  10  0 and 2x  2y  z  8  0 .

Right Circular Cone :

Definition : A right circular cone is a surface generated by a straight line which passes
through a fixed point and makes a constant angle with a fixed line.
The constant angle θ is called the semi vertical angle, a fixed point is called a vertex
and the fixed line AP is called the axis.

Figure: A(vertex)

Generator

Axis

C B
p

Equation of a right circular cone:

Let (x 0 , y0 , z0 ) be the co-ordinates of the vertex A and (a, b, c) be the direction ratios

of the axis. Consider any point P(x, y, z) on the cone. Then the direction ratios of the

generator AP are (x  x 0 , y  y0 , z  z0 ) and

a(x  x 0 )  b(y  y0 )  c(z  z 0 )

cos  
a 2
(x  x 0 ) 2  (y  y0 ) 2  (z  z 0 ) 2

a(x  x 0 )  b(y  y0 )  c(z  z0 )  (a 2  b 2  c 2 ) (x  x 0 ) 2  (y  y 0 ) 2  (z  z 0 ) 2  cos 

2
Or

This equation holds for any point P on the cone and hence is the equation of the right
circular cone.
Example 1: Find the equation of the right circular cone whose vertex is the origin,
x y z
whose axis is the line   and which has semi vertical angle of 300 .
1 2 3
Solution. Given (x 0 , y0 , z0 )  (0,0,0) . Direction ratios of the axis are (1, 2,3) and

  300 .
Then the required equation is
(x  2y  3z)2  (12  22  32 ) x 2  y 2  z 2  cos 2 300

3
 x 2  4y2  9z 2  4xy  12yz  6xz  14(x 2  y 2  z 2 )
4
 19x 2  13y2  3z2  8xy  24yz  12xz  0 .

Example 2: Find the equation of the right circular cone generated when the straight
line 2y  3z  6, x  0 revolves about z- axis.
Solution. Let P(x, y, z) be any point on the cone. The vertex is the point of
intersection of the line 2y  3z  6, x  0 and the z- axis.
Therefore the vertex A is (0,0,2).
x y z2
A generator of the cone is 0  0  2 . Direction ratios of the generator are (0,3,2)

and the axis are (0,0,1). The semi vertical angle θ is given by
2
cos  
13
Let P(x,y,z) be any point on the cone so that the direction ratios of AP are (x,y,z-2).
Since AP makes an angle θ with AZ, we have
x.0  y.0  (z  2).1
cos  
x 2  y2  (z  2)2

4 (z  2)2
⟹  2
13 x  y 2  (z  2) 2

⟹ 4x 2  4y2  9z2  36z  36  0 , which is the required equation of the cone.

Right circular cylinder:

Definition: A right circular cylinder is a surface generated by a straight line which is

parallel to a straight line and is at a constant distance from it. The constant distance is
called the radius of the cylinder.

Equation of a right circular cylinder:

P L

R Q
A

Let (l,m,n) be the direction cosines of the axis and A(x 0, y0,z0) be a point on L.
Consider an arbitrary point P(x,y,z) on the cylinder. If Q is the foot of the perpendicular
from P onto L, then PQ=R, the radius of the cylinder. Also AQ is the projection of AP
on L.
 AQ  l(x  x 0 )  m(y  y0 )  n(z  z0 )

Also AP2  (x  x 0 )2  (y  y0 )2  (z  z0 )2

Then AP2  AQ2  PQ2 is the required equation of the cylinder.

Example 1. The radius of a normal section of a right circular cylinder is 2 units.

x 1 y  3 z  2
The axis lies along the straight line   . Find its equation.
2 1 5
Solution.
Figure

R P
Z

A Q

Let P(x,y,z) be any point on the cylinder. Draw PN perpendicular to the axis AN. Then
PN=2.
AN is the projection of AP on AN. Directio ratios of AN are (2,-1,5).
 2 1 5 
Direction cosines of AN=  , , 
 30 30 30 
Then the required equation is
2
 2 1 5 
(x  1)  (y  3)  (z  2)  
2 2 2
(x  1)  (y  3)  (z  2)   0 .
 30 30 30 

Example 2: Find the equation of the right circular cylinder having the circle
x 2  y2  z2  9 , x  y  z  3 as base circle.
Solution.

The axis of the cylinder is the line through the centre of S and perpendicular to the
plane q. We note that O(0,0,0) is the center of S and (1,-1,1) are the direction ratios of
the normal to q.
 1 1 1 
The direction cosines of the axis are  , ,  . The perpendicular distance from O
 3 3 3

3
on to the plane q is OA   3
12  12  12
If Q is a point common to S and q, then OQ= radius of the sphere=3.

 AQ  OQ2  OA2  9  3  6
Let P(x,y,z) be any point on the cylinder. Then ZP= 6
The equation of the cylinder is
2
 1 
(x  0)  (y  0)  (z  0)   (x  0)  (y  0)  (z  0)   6
2 2 2

 3 
⟹ x 2  y2  z2  xy  yz  zx  9 .