Section 5b: Orthocenter
Directions for Using the Applet:
1. The orthocenter is the point where the three altitudes of a triangle intersect.
2. In the applet, you’ll see an orange point labeled O, which is the orthocenter.
3. Click and drag the triangle’s white vertices to create different triangle shapes.
4. Slide the slider to activate the altitudes and the orthocenter.
5. Watch where the orthocenter moves as the triangle changes.
- Is it inside, on, or outside the triangle?
Questions to Answer (Write in Complete Sentences):
1. Can the orthocenter lie outside the triangle? If so, when does this happen?
2. Can the orthocenter lie on the triangle itself? If so, under what condition?
3. If your answer to #2 is “yes,” where on the triangle does the orthocenter appear?
4. Can the orthocenter lie inside the triangle? If so, under what condition?