[Math] Finding centre of sphere inscribed in tetrahedron

geometrylinear algebra

Given the tetrahedron with vertices defined by vectors $a=(-4, -3, 1)$, $b=(8,3,1)$, $c= (2, 6, 1)$, $d=(4,3,3)$, find the centre of the sphere inscribed in the tetrahedron.

My train of thought: consider the intersection of the four bisectors of the vertices of the tetrahedron. The centre of the sphere will be in the intersection of the four angle-bisecting planes.

Is this correct?

If so, then we need to find four normal vectors, equations of the four planes, and equate them all together, then find $x$, the centre of the sphere. Is this correct?

Is there a simpler way?

Best Answer

Given any tetrahedron $T$ with vertices $p_1, p_2, p_3, p_4$. Let

  • $r$ and $u$ be the in-radius and in-center.
  • $(\alpha_1, \alpha_2, \alpha_3, \alpha_4)$ be the barycentric coordinates of $u$ with respect to $T$. i.e. a list of $4$ numbers satisfy: $$u = \alpha_1 p_1 + \alpha_2 p_2 + \alpha_3 p_3 + \alpha_4 p_4 \quad\text{ and }\quad \alpha_1 + \alpha_2 + \alpha_3 + \alpha_4 = 1$$
  • For each $i$, let $A_i$ be the area of the face of $T$ opposite to $p_i$ and $h_i$ be the height of $p_i$ to that face.
  • $V$ be the volume of $T$.

We know that for each $i$, $\displaystyle\;\alpha_i = \frac{r}{h_i}$, together with the fact: $$ h_1A_1 = h_2A_2 = h_3 A_3 = h_4 A_4 = 3V $$ We have $\displaystyle\;\alpha_i = \frac{r}{h_i} = \frac{rA_i}{3V}$ and $\displaystyle\;\sum_{i=1}^4 \alpha_i = 1$ reduces to $\displaystyle\;\frac{r}{3V}\sum_{i=1}^4 A_i = 1$. As a result, $$u = \sum_{i=1}^4 \alpha_i p_i = \frac{r}{3V}\sum_{i=1}^4 A_i p_i = \frac{\sum\limits_{i=1}^4 A_i p_i}{\sum\limits_{i=1}^4 A_i} $$ i.e the in-center is the area weighted average of the vertices.

The actual computation of the coordinates of in-center for this problem is left as an exercise.

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