matematicas visuales visual math
Pyramids cut by an oblique plane

In Plane developments of geometric bodies (1): Nets of prisms we can see how regular and non-regular prisms can be developed into a plane. Now we are going to study nets of prisms cut by an oblique plane.

This is one example:

Prisms cut by an oblique plane and their nets: a prism  | matematicasVisuales
Prisms cut by an oblique plane and their nets: a prism developing | matematicasVisuales
Prisms cut by an oblique plane and their nets: plane net | matematicasVisuales

In the examples above a base was a regular polygons. But we can consider prisms whose bases are not regular polygons. In the next mathlet, bases are non-regular polygons (although they are inscribed in a circle and they are convex polygons). Each time we change the number of sides of the base a new prism is generated with sides randomly drawn:

This is one example of a non-regular transparent prism cut by an oblique plane:

Prisms cut by an oblique plane and their nets: a non-regular prism | matematicasVisuales

Two examples of nets of non-regular prisms cut by an oblique plane:

Prisms cut by an oblique plane and their nets: plane net example  | matematicasVisuales

Prisms cut by an oblique plane and their nets: plane net example 2 | matematicasVisuales

MORE LINKS

Plane developments of geometric bodies (4): Cylinders cut by an oblique plane
We study different cylinders cut by an oblique plane. The section that we get is an ellipse.
Plane developments of geometric bodies (5): Pyramid and pyramidal frustrum
Plane net of pyramids and pyramidal frustrum. How to calculate the lateral surface area.
Plane developments of geometric bodies (7): Cone and conical frustrum
Plane developments of cones and conical frustum. How to calculate the lateral surface area.
Plane developments of geometric bodies (8): Cones cut by an oblique plane
Plane developments of cones cut by an oblique plane. The section is an ellipse.
Plane developments of geometric bodies: Dodecahedron
The first drawing of a plane net of a regular dodecahedron was published by Dürer in his book 'Underweysung der Messung' ('Four Books of Measurement'), published in 1525 .
Plane developments of geometric bodies: Octahedron
The first drawing of a plane net of a regular octahedron was published by Dürer in his book 'Underweysung der Messung' ('Four Books of Measurement'), published in 1525 .
Hexagonal section of a cube
We can cut in half a cube by a plane and get a section that is a regular hexagon. Using eight of this pieces we can made a truncated octahedron.
A truncated octahedron made by eight half cubes
Using eight half cubes we can make a truncated octahedron. The cube tesselate the space an so do the truncated octahedron. We can calculate the volume of a truncated octahedron.
Leonardo da Vinci: Drawing of a truncated octahedron made to Luca Pacioli's De divina proportione.
Leonardo da Vinci made several drawings of polyhedra for Luca Pacioli's book 'De divina proportione'. Here we can see an adaptation of the truncated octahedron.
The volume of a truncated octahedron
The truncated octahedron is an Archimedean solid. It has 8 regular hexagonal faces and 6 square faces. Its volume can be calculated knowing the volume of an octahedron.
The volume of the tetrahedron
The volume of a tetrahedron is one third of the prism that contains it.
Plane developments of geometric bodies: Tetrahedron
The first drawing of a plane net of a regular tetrahedron was published by Dürer in his book 'Underweysung der Messung' ('Four Books of Measurement'), published in 1525 .
Volume of an octahedron
The volume of an octahedron is four times the volume of a tetrahedron. It is easy to calculate and then we can get the volume of a tetrahedron.
Chamfered Cube
You can chamfer a cube and then you get a polyhedron similar (but not equal) to a truncated octahedron. You can get also a rhombic dodecahedron.
Resources: How to build polyhedra using paper and rubber bands
A very simple technique to build complex and colorful polyhedra.