Surface normal

A surface normal, or just normal to a

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flat surface is a three-dimensional vector which is perpendicular to that surface. A normal to a non-flat surface at a point p on the surface is a vector which is perpendicular to the tangent plane to that surface at p. The word normal is also used as an adjective as well as a noun with this meaning: a line normal to a plane, the normal component of a force, the normal vector, etc.

Related Topics:
Surface - Vector - Perpendicular - Tangent plane

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A polygon and its normal

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