Tag Archives: offset

Get a offset (or point) on a vector perpendicular to a point

 

To find the offset on a vector perpendicular to a point use the dot product

Assume the vector is defined by P1 and P2  and the point by P

in 2d

            (P.x - P1.x) * (P2.x - P1.x) + (P.y - P1.y) * (P2.y - P1.y)
offset =    -----------------------------------------------------------------
            (P2.x - P1.x) * (P2.x - P1.x) + (P2.y - P1.y) * (P2.y - P1.y)

or 3d

            (P.x - P1.x) * (P2.x - P1.x) + (P.y - P1.y) * (P2.y - P1.y) + (P.z - P1.z) * (P2.z- P1.z)
offset =    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (P2.x - P1.x) * (P2.x - P1.x) + (P2.y - P1.y) * (P2.y - P1.y) + (P2.z - P1.z) * (P2.z - P1.z)

notes:

If vector P1,P2 has been normalized (length 1) the division by the length is obviously not necessary. If not the result is divided the square length. Although divided by the length (square root) the result will equal that of a normalized vector. Keep in mind that the dot project is a projection on the vector thus requiring a additional division by the length!

 

Calculating the point on the vector can be done using

P.x =  P1.x + (P2.x - P1.x) * o;

P.y =  P1.y + (P2.y - P1.y) * o;

P.z =  P1.z + (P2.z - P1.z) * o;  (3d)
Lastest update in June 2011, inital post in June 2011