The height of a regular quadrangular pyramid is √6, and the lateral rib is inclined at an angle of 60
The height of a regular quadrangular pyramid is √6, and the lateral rib is inclined at an angle of 60 degrees to the base plane, find the lateral rib and the area of the lateral pyramid
Consider a right-angled triangle MOA in which the leg MO = √6 cm, and the MAO angle = 60.
Then the hypotenuse is SinMAO = MO / MA.
Sin60 = √6 / MA.
MA = √6 / (√3 / 2) = 2 * √6 / √3 = 2 * √18 / 3 = 2 * √2 cm.
Angle AMO = 180 – 90 – 60 = 30. Then the leg AO lies opposite angle 30, and is equal to half the length of AM.
AO = MA / 2 = 2 * √2 / 2 = √2 cm.
The diagonal of the base is: AC = AO * 2 = 2 * √2 cm.
Then the side of the base will be equal to: AB = BC = CD = AD = AC / √2 = 2 * √2 / √2 = 2 cm.
Let’s define the apothem of the pyramid.
MH ^ 2 = MO ^ 2 + OH ^ 2 = (√6) ^ 2 + 1 ^ 2 = 7.
MH = √7 cm.
Let us determine the lateral surface area through the semiperimeter and apothem.
p = (AB + BC + CD + AD) / 2 = 8/2 = 4 cm.
Sside = p * MH = 4 * √7 cm2.
Answer: The area of the lateral surface of the pyramid is 4 * √7 cm2.