In the realm of geometry, there exists a captivating world where lines, points, and shapes converge to create intricate patterns and structures. While these concepts may seem confined to the pages of textbooks, they are, in fact, all around us, quietly shaping the spaces we inhabit. One such fundamental element of geometry is the plane—a two-dimensional surface that stretches infinitely in all directions, defining our physical reality.
From the symmetrical designs of architectural marvels to the familiar shapes that grace our homes, geometric planes offer both aesthetic appeal and functional purpose. In this blog post, we will take you through real-life examples of geometric planes in our everyday lives, shedding light on their presence in architecture, interior design, art, and the natural world.
Real-Life instances of plane utilization
1. Floors
The floor in a room or building is a flat, horizontal surface that extends across a large area. It serves as a foundation and provides a stable platform for walking, sitting, or placing furniture. In geometry, the floor can be visualized as an infinite plane that continues indefinitely in all directions.
2. Tables
A table, whether it’s a dining table, coffee table, or desk, has a flat surface that represents a plane. The tabletop provides a level and stable area for various activities like dining, working, or playing games. It can be imagined as an infinitely extending plane, although the actual size is limited to the dimensions of the table.
3. Whiteboards or Chalkboards
Whiteboards and chalkboards have smooth, flat surfaces designed for writing, drawing, and erasing. They serve as communication tools in classrooms, offices, and other settings. From a geometric perspective, these boards can be thought of as planes since they extend infinitely in both length and width.
4. Walls:
The flat surfaces of walls create boundaries and enclosed spaces within a room or building. Walls can be made of various materials like concrete, drywall, or brick, but their function remains the same. Geometrically, walls are considered planes since they extend vertically and horizontally, defining the shape and structure of an enclosed area and being a common example of a square or a quadrilateral.
5. Windows
Windows consist of glass panes set within frames and provide a view to the outside while allowing light to enter a room. When closed, the glass pane forms a flat and transparent surface. From a geometric standpoint, a closed window can be treated as a plane, extending both horizontally and vertically.
6. Computer or Smartphone Screens
The sleek and smooth surfaces of computer monitors and smartphone screens represent planes that come to life with vibrant colors and dynamic visuals. These flat planes are where we interact with the digital world, displaying websites, videos, games, and all sorts of digital content.
7. Paper or Canvas:
Imagine holding a blank sheet of paper or a pristine canvas. As you take a pencil or brush and create strokes, the surface transforms into a plane where your imagination takes flight. It becomes a realm where ideas, stories, and emotions come to life through art and writing.
8. Mirrors:
The reflective surface of a mirror, although appearing flat, possesses a magical quality. It is a plane that captures light and reflects back images, allowing us to see ourselves and the world around us from different perspectives. Mirrors offer us a glimpse into parallel worlds and mirror the beauty of our surroundings.
9. Photographs or Paintings:
Imagine standing in front of a framed photograph or a beautifully painted canvas. The surface becomes a plane that transports us to different moments in time or evokes emotions through artistry. These planes display captured memories, breathtaking landscapes, or the expression of an artist’s vision.
10. Countertops:
Kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities with their flat surfaces provide functional spaces for preparing meals, organizing ingredients, and grooming. These planes witness the creation of delicious dishes and serve as platforms for our daily routines, combining aesthetics and practicality in our homes.
11. Game Boards:
The smooth and polished surfaces of game boards, such as chessboards or game tables, set the stage for epic battles of strategy and entertainment. These planes become battlegrounds for players, where moves and decisions unfold, giving life to exciting competitions and social interactions.
12. Whiteboard or Chalkboard Dusters:
The flat surfaces of dusters designed for whiteboards or chalkboards hold the power to wipe away marks and create a fresh canvas for new ideas. These planes of erasers serve as tools of transformation, clearing the way for new thoughts and innovative thinking.
13. Road Surfaces:
Picture yourself standing at the edge of a smooth and well-paved road or highway. The expansive, flat surface extends far into the distance, connecting different places and facilitating journeys. These planes of roads serve as pathways for exploration, adventure, and the connection between people and destinations.
14. Traffic signs and symbols:
Being the perfect real-life example of a rhombus, traffic signs, and symbols are presented on a flat surface of yellow color which makes it visible from a far distance helping drivers to smoothly commute and eliminate any mishappenings on the road.
15. Billboard Advertisements:
Imagine towering billboards along a busy street, displaying vivid images and captivating messages. These massive, flat surfaces become planes that showcase advertising creativity, capturing attention, and conveying information to passersby in a visually striking manner.
16. Solar Panels:
The flat surfaces of solar panels, strategically positioned to capture sunlight, harness its energy and convert it into electricity. These planes represent sustainable innovation, tapping into the power of the sun to generate clean and renewable energy, contributing to a greener future.
17. Cutting Board:
A cutting board typically has a flat and rectangular surface, making it a perfect example of a plane. You can identify its flatness by placing it on a table and observing how it rests evenly on the surface.
18. Wall Calendar:
Many wall calendars have a large, flat surface with a grid layout for each month. The flat backing of the calendar represents a plane that can be easily noticed by running your hand over its smooth surface.
19. Book or a Notebook:
Any book or notebook has a flat surface from top to page to bottom due to which we are easily able to read and write. Imagine if these would come in some other shape such as curved in an oval, how difficult and time-consuming it would be to read and write.
20. Bed:
After a tiring day, we all love to lay on a plane surface to rest and relax our body and mind and nothing is better and most comfortable than a bed. The sponge mattress which adds to the comfort is also a flat and plane surface helping to straighten our backs and relax.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the concept of a plane in geometry opens doors to a world of understanding and exploration. Whether it’s the floors beneath our feet, the screens that display digital wonders, or the canvases that hold artistic expressions, planes surround us in our daily lives.
Geometry invites us to view the world through a lens of practical applications, where the flatness and extension of planes become the building blocks of our spatial comprehension which is important in order to process and make sense of our surroundings.. Through the study of planes, we develop a deeper appreciation for the symmetries, patterns, and harmonies that permeate the world around us.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,