Distance between intersection of circle and 2 lines

circlesgeometryplane-geometry

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I feel like this should be simple, but I am unable to find any solutions. I am trying to find the distance between the 2 points (red line) where a circle of radius r intersects 2 lines, given the angle between the lines.

How can I find the 2 intersecting points?

Best Answer

It's just a mathematical problem, first you can find the slope of your lines using (respectively for degrees and radians):

m=\tan\left(\frac{\alpha}{2\cdot180}\pi\right)

m=\tan\left(\frac{\alpha}{2}\right)

Then, writing down the equations for the intersections of the lines and (half of) the circle, you obtain: m=m^{2}r^{2}-m^{2}y^{2}=q^{2}%2By^{2}-2qy)

Solving the equation imposing to have a unique solution to have the lines as tangents you obtain the intercept:

q=r\sqrt{1%2Bm^{2}})

and then:

y_{1}=\frac{q}{1%2Bm^{2}}

The y of the lower point is just -y1, so the overall distance is, after some simplifications:

2r\cos\left(\frac{\alpha}{2\cdot180}\pi\right) (Degrees)

2r\cos\left(\frac{\alpha}{2\cdot180}\pi\right) (Radians)

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