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Circumcenter Explorer

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About This MicroSim

This interactive visualization demonstrates the circumcenter of a triangle - the intersection point of the three perpendicular bisectors. The circumcenter is the center of the circumscribed circle (circumcircle) that passes through all three vertices.

Key Concepts

Perpendicular Bisectors

A perpendicular bisector of a side is a line that: - Passes through the midpoint of the side - Is perpendicular (90°) to the side

The Circumcenter (O)

  • The circumcenter is equidistant from all three vertices
  • It is the center of the circumcircle (the circle through all vertices)
  • Its location depends on the triangle type:
  • Acute triangle: Inside the triangle
  • Right triangle: On the hypotenuse (at its midpoint)
  • Obtuse triangle: Outside the triangle

Interactions

  • Drag vertices A, B, or C to reshape the triangle
  • Watch how the circumcenter moves as the triangle type changes
  • Observe the circumcircle always passing through all three vertices

Learning Objectives

  • Understand that perpendicular bisectors meet at a single point
  • Identify the circumcenter as equidistant from all vertices
  • Recognize how circumcenter location varies with triangle type
  • Connect the circumcenter to the circumscribed circle

Bloom's Taxonomy Level

Understanding and Analyzing