surface normal

noun

A unit vector at any given point P of a surface M which is perpendicular to the tangent plane T_P(M) of M at P. For a surface with parametrization ⃑x(u,v), it is given by

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Meanings

nounsurface normal (plural surface normals)

plural surface normals

  1. differential geometryA unit vector at any given point P of a surface M which is perpendicular to the tangent plane T_P(M) of M at P. For a surface with parametrization ⃑x(u,v), it is given by
  2. A unit vector at any given point P of a surface M which is perpendicular to the tangent plane T_P(M) of M at P. For a surface with parametrization ⃑x(u,v), it is given by ⃑n=±⃑x_u×⃑x_v/ lVert ⃑x_u×⃑x_v rVert where the sign can be chosen at will.
    1. differential geometry⃑n=±⃑x_u×⃑x_v/ lVert ⃑x_u×⃑x_v rVert
    2. differential geometrywhere the sign can be chosen at will.
Cite this entry
APA

surface normal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surface%20normal

MLA

“surface normal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surface%20normal. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “surface normal,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surface%20normal.

Source: surface normal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.