ENGINEERING CURVES

Part- I {Conic Sections}

ELLIPSE PARABOLA HYPERBOLA

1.Concentric Circle Method 1.Rectangle Method 1.Rectangular Hyperbola

(coordinates given)
2.Rectangle Method 2 Method of Tangents
( Triangle Method) 2 Rectangular Hyperbola
3.Oblong Method (P-V diagram - Equation given)
3.Basic Locus Method
4.Arcs of Circle Method (Directrix – focus) 3.Basic Locus Method
(Directrix – focus)
5.Rhombus Metho

6.Basic Locus Method Methods of Drawing

(Directrix – focus) Tangents & Normals
To These Curves.
 CONIC SECTIONS
ELLIPSE, PARABOLA AND HYPERBOLA ARE CALLED CONIC SECTIONS
BECAUSE
THESE CURVES APPEAR ON THE SURFACE OF A CONE
WHEN IT IS CUT BY SOME TYPICAL CUTTING PLANES.

OBSERVE
ILLUSTRATIONS
GIVEN BELOW..

Ellipse

Section Plane

la
Section Plane
Hyperbola
ab o
Through Generators Parallel to Axis.
Par

Section Plane Parallel

to end generator.
 COMMON DEFINITION OF ELLIPSE, PARABOLA & HYPERBOLA:
These are the loci of points moving in a plane such that the ratio of it’s distances
from a fixed point And a fixed line always remains constant.
The Ratio is called ECCENTRICITY. (E)
A) For Ellipse E<1
B) For Parabola E=1
C) For Hyperbola E>1

Refer Problem nos. 6. 9 & 12

SECOND DEFINATION OF AN ELLIPSE:-
It is a locus of a point moving in a plane
such that the SUM of it’s distances from TWO fixed points
always remains constant.
{And this sum equals to the length of major axis.}
These TWO fixed points are FOCUS 1 & FOCUS 2
Refer Problem no.4
Ellipse by Arcs of Circles Method.
 ELLIPSE
Problem 1 :- BY CONCENTRIC CIRCLE METHOD
Draw ellipse by concentric circle method.
Take major axis 100 mm and minor axis 70 mm long.
3
Steps: 2 4
1. Draw both axes as perpendicular bisectors
of each other & name their ends as shown. C
2. Taking their intersecting point as a center,
draw two concentric circles considering both 1 5
3
2 4
as respective diameters.
3. Divide both circles in 12 equal parts &
1 5
name as shown.
4. From all points of outer circle draw vertical
A
lines downwards and upwards respectively. B
5.From all points of inner circle draw
horizontal lines to intersect those vertical 10 6
lines.
6. Mark all intersecting points properly as 10 9 7 6
those are the points on ellipse. 8
7. Join all these points along with the ends of D
both axes in smooth possible curve. It is
required ellipse. 9 7
8
Steps:
1 Draw a rectangle taking major
and minor axes as sides. ELLIPSE
2. In this rectangle draw both BY RECTANGLE METHOD
axes as perpendicular bisectors
of each other..
3. For construction, select upper Problem 2
left part of rectangle. Divide Draw ellipse by Rectangle method.
vertical small side and horizontal Take major axis 100 mm and minor axis 70 mm long.
long side into same number of
equal parts.( here divided in four
parts) D
4. Name those as shown.. 4 4
5. Now join all vertical points
1,2,3,4, to the upper end of minor 3 3
axis. And all horizontal points 2
2
i.e.1,2,3,4 to the lower end of
minor axis. 1 1
6. Then extend C-1 line upto D-1
and mark that point. Similarly
extend C-2, C-3, C-4 lines up to
A 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 B
D-2, D-3, & D-4 lines.
7. Mark all these points properly
and join all along with ends A
and D in smooth possible curve.
Do similar construction in right
side part.along with lower half of
the rectangle.Join all points in
smooth curve.
C
It is required ellipse.
PROBLEM 6:- POINT F IS 50 MM FROM A LINE AB.A POINT P IS MOVING IN A PLANE
SUCH THAT THE RATIO OF IT’S DISTANCES FROM F AND LINE AB REMAINS CONSTANT
AND EQUALS TO 2/3 DRAW LOCUS OF POINT P. { ECCENTRICITY = 2/3 }
ELLIPSE
DIRECTRIX-FOCUS METHOD
STEPS: ELLIPSE
1 .Draw a vertical line AB and point F A
50 mm from it.

DIRECTRIX
2 .Divide 50 mm distance in 5 parts.
3 .Name 2nd part from F as V. It is 20mm
and 30mm from F and AB line resp. 45mm
It is first point giving ratio of it’s
distances from F and AB 2/3 i.e 20/30

3 0 mm
4 Form more points giving same ratio such
as 30/45, 40/60, 50/75 etc.
5.Taking 45,60 and 75mm distances from
line AB, draw three vertical lines to the (vertex) V
right side of it. F ( focus)
6. Now with 30, 40 and 50mm distances in
compass cut these lines above and below,
with F as center.
7. Join these points through V in smooth
curve.
This is required locus of P.It is an ELLIPSE.

B
PROBLEM 7: A BALL THROWN IN AIR ATTAINS 100 M HIEGHT
AND COVERS HORIZONTAL DISTANCE 150 M ON GROUND. PARABOLA
Draw the path of the ball (projectile)- RECTANGLE METHOD

STEPS: 6 6
1.Draw rectangle of above size and
divide it in two equal vertical parts
2.Consider left part for construction. 5 5
Divide height and length in equal
number of parts and name those
1,2,3,4,5& 6 4 4
3.Join vertical 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 to the
top center of rectangle
4.Similarly draw upward vertical
3 3
lines from horizontal1,2,3,4,5
And wherever these lines intersect
previously drawn inclined lines in
sequence Mark those points and 2 2
further join in smooth possible curve.
5.Repeat the construction on right side
rectangle also.Join all in sequence. 1 1
This locus is Parabola.
.

1 2 3 4 5 6 5 4 3 2 1
Problem no.8: Draw an isosceles triangle of 100 mm long base and
110 mm long altitude.Inscribe a parabola in it by method of tangents. PARABOLA
METHOD OF TANGENTS
Solution Steps: C
1. Construct triangle as per the given 14
dimensions. 1
2. Divide it’s both sides in to same no.of 13
2
equal parts. 12
3
3. Name the parts in ascending and 11
descending manner, as shown. 4
10
4. Join 1-1, 2-2,3-3 and so on. 5
5. Draw the curve as shown i.e.tangent to 9
6
all these lines. The above all lines being 8
tangents to the curve, it is called method 7
of tangents. 7 8
6
9
5 10
4 11
3 12
2 13
1
14
A B
PROBLEM 9: Point F is 50 mm from a vertical straight line AB.
Draw locus of point P, moving in a plane such that
PARABOLA
it always remains equidistant from point F and line AB.
DIRECTRIX-FOCUS METHOD
SOLUTION STEPS:
1.Locate center of line, perpendicular to PARABOLA
AB from point F. This will be initial
point P. A
2.Mark 5 mm distance to its right side,
name those points 1,2,3,4 and from those
draw lines parallel to AB.
3.Mark 5 mm distance to its left of P and
name it 1.
4.Take F-1 distance as radius and F as
center draw an arc (VERTEX) V
cutting first parallel line to AB. Name
upper point P1 and lower point P2. 1 2 3 4
F
4 3 2 1
5.Similarly repeat this process by taking ( focus)
again 5mm to right and left and locate
P3 P4 .
6.Join all these points in smooth curve.

It will be the locus of P equidistance

from line AB and fixed point F.
B
 Problem No.10: Point P is 40 mm and 30 mm from horizontal
and vertical axes respectively.Draw Hyperbola through it.
SSolution Steps: HYPERBOLA
Extend horizontal line from P to
THROUGH A POINT
right side. 2 OF KNOWN CO-ORDINATES
2Extend vertical line from P upward.
3 On horizontal line from P, mark
some points taking any distance and
name them after P-1, 2,3,4 etc.
4 Join 1-2-3-4 points to pole O. Let
them cut part [P-B] also at 1,2,3,4
points.
5From horizontal 1,2,3,4 draw
vertical lines downwards and
6From vertical 1,2,3,4 points [from 1
P-B] draw horizontal lines.
7Line from 1 horizontal and line from
1 vertical will meet at P1.Similarly P
2 1 1 2 3
mark P2, P3, P4 points.
8Repeat the procedure by marking
four points on upward vertical line 1
from P and joining all those to pole
O. Name this points P6, P7, P8 etc. and 40 mm 2
join them by smooth curve.
3

30 mm
PROBLEM 12:- POINT F IS 50 MM FROM A LINE AB.
A POINT P IS MOVING IN A PLANE SUCH THAT THE RATIO
OF IT’S DISTANCES FROM F AND LINE AB REMAINS
CONSTANT AND EQUALS TO 2/3 A HYPERBOLA
DRAW LOCUS OF POINT P. { ECCENTRICITY = 2/3 }
DIRECTRIX
30mm FOCUS METHOD
STEPS:
1 .Draw a vertical line AB and point F

45m
50 mm from it.

m
2 .Divide 50 mm distance in 5 parts.
3 .Name 3rd part from F as V. It is 30 mm
and 20 mm from F and AB line resp. (vertex) F ( focus)
It is first point giving ratio of it’s V
distances from F and AB = 3/2 i.e 30/20
4 Form more points giving same ratio such
as 45/30, 60/40, 75/50 etc.
5.Taking 30. 40 and 50 mm distances from
line AB, draw three vertical lines to the
right side of it.
6. Now with 45, 60 and 75 mm distances in
compass cut these lines above and
below, with F as center.
7. Join these points through V in smooth
curve.
B
This is required locus of P. It is Hyperbola.
 ELLIPSE
TANGENT & NORMAL
ELLIPSE
A
Problem 14:

DIRECTRIX
TO DRAW TANGENT & NORMAL
TO THE CURVE
T
FROM A GIVEN POINT ( Q )

1.JOIN POINT Q TO F.
(vertex) V
2.CONSTRUCT 900 ANGLE WITH F ( focus)
THIS LINE AT POINT F
900
3.EXTEND THE LINE TO MEET DIRECTRIX N
AT T
4. JOIN THIS POINT TO Q AND EXTEND. THIS IS
TANGENT TO ELLIPSE FROM Q
5.TO THIS TANGENT DRAW PERPENDICULAR
LINE FROM Q. IT IS NORMAL TO CURVE. Q
N

T
 PARABOLA
TANGENT & NORMAL
T PARABOLA
Problem 15:
TO DRAW TANGENT & NORMAL A
TO THE CURVE
FROM A GIVEN POINT ( Q )

1.JOIN POINT Q TO F.
2.CONSTRUCT 900 ANGLE WITH
THIS LINE AT POINT F VERTEX V F
3.EXTEND THE LINE TO MEET DIRECTRIX 900
AT T ( focus)
4. JOIN THIS POINT TO Q AND EXTEND. THIS IS
TANGENT TO THE CURVE FROM Q
N
5.TO THIS TANGENT DRAW PERPENDICULAR
LINE FROM Q. IT IS NORMAL TO CURVE.

Q
B N

T
 HYPERBOLA
TANGENT & NORMAL
Problem 16 A
TO DRAW TANGENT & NORMAL
TO THE CURVE
FROM A GIVEN POINT ( Q )

1.JOIN POINT Q TO F.
2.CONSTRUCT 900 ANGLE WITH THIS LINE AT (vertex)
V
F ( focus)
POINT F 900
3.EXTEND THE LINE TO MEET DIRECTRIX AT T
4. JOIN THIS POINT TO Q AND EXTEND. THIS IS N
TANGENT TO CURVE FROM Q
5.TO THIS TANGENT DRAW PERPENDICULAR
LINE FROM Q. IT IS NORMAL TO CURVE.

N Q

T
 ENGINEERING CURVES
Part-II
(Point undergoing two types of displacements)

INVOLUTE CYCLOID SPIRAL HELIX

1. Involute of a circle 1. General Cycloid 1. Spiral of 1. On Cylinder
a)String Length = D One Convolution.
2. Trochoid 2. On a Cone
b)String Length > D ( superior) 2. Spiral of
3. Trochoid Two Convolutions.
c)String Length < D ( Inferior)
4. Epi-Cycloid
2. Pole having Composite
shape. 5. Hypo-Cycloid

3. Rod Rolling over

a Semicircular Pole. AND Methods of Drawing
Tangents & Normals
To These Curves.
 DEFINITIONS
CYCLOID:
IT IS A LOCUS OF A POINT ON THE
PERIPHERY OF A CIRCLE WHICH
SUPERIORTROCHOID:
IF THE POINT IN THE DEFINATION
ROLLS ON A STRAIGHT LINE PATH.
OF CYCLOID IS OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE

INFERIOR TROCHOID.:
INVOLUTE: IF IT IS INSIDE THE CIRCLE
IT IS A LOCUS OF A FREE END OF A STRING
WHEN IT IS WOUND ROUND A CIRCULAR POLE EPI-CYCLOID
IF THE CIRCLE IS ROLLING ON
ANOTHER CIRCLE FROM OUTSIDE
SPIRAL:
IT IS A CURVE GENERATED BY A POINT HYPO-CYCLOID.
WHICH REVOLVES AROUND A FIXED POINT IF THE CIRCLE IS ROLLING FROM
AND AT THE SAME MOVES TOWARDS IT. INSIDE THE OTHER CIRCLE,

HELIX:
IT IS A CURVE GENERATED BY A POINT WHICH
MOVES AROUND THE SURFACE OF A RIGHT CIRCULAR
CYLINDER / CONE AND AT THE SAME TIME ADVANCES IN AXIAL DIRECTION
AT A SPEED BEARING A CONSTANT RATIO TO THE SPPED OF ROTATION.
( for more problems on helix refer topic Development of surfaces)
 INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE
Solution Steps: Problem no 17: Draw Involute of a circle.
1) Point or end P of string AP is
exactly D distance away from A. String length is equal to the circumference of circle.
Means if this string is wound round
the circle, it will completely cover P2
given circle. B will meet A after
winding.
2) Divide D (AP) distance into 8
number of equal parts. P3
P1
3) Divide circle also into 8 number
of equal parts.

2 to p
4) Name after A, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. up 3
to
to 8 on D line AP as well as on p
circle (in anticlockwise direction).

op
1t
5) To radius C-1, C-2, C-3 up to C-8
draw tangents (from 1,2,3,4,etc to
circle). P4 4 to p
6) Take distance 1 to P in compass 4
and mark it on tangent from point 1 3
5
on circle (means one division less
than distance AP).
2
6
op

7) Name this point P1

5t

8) Take 2-B distance in compass 1

7 A
and mark it on the tangent from 8
6 to p

7
point 2. Name it point P2. P5 to P
p P8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9) Similarly take 3 to P, 4 to P, 5 to
P7
P up to 7 to P distance in compass
and mark on respective tangents
P6 
and locate P3, P4, P5 up to P8 (i.e. D
A) points and join them in smooth
curve it is an INVOLUTE of a given
circle.
 Problem 18: Draw Involute of a circle.
INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE
String length is MORE than the circumference of circle.
String length MORE than D
Solution Steps: P2
In this case string length is more
than  D.
But remember!
Whatever may be the length of P3 P1
string, mark  D distance

2 to p
horizontal i.e.along the string
and divide it in 8 number of 3
to
equal parts, and not any other p

op
distance. Rest all steps are same

1t
as previous INVOLUTE. Draw
the curve completely.

4 to p
P4 4
3
5
2
op
5t

6
1
P5 7
8
7 p8 1 P
6 to p

to
p
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P7
165 mm
P6 (more than D)
D
Problem 19: Draw Involute of a circle.
String length is LESS than the circumference of circle. INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE
Solution Steps: P2 String length LESS than D
In this case string length is Less
than  D.
But remember!
Whatever may be the length of P3
P1
string, mark  D distance
horizontal i.e.along the string
and divide it in 8 number of

2 to p
3
to
equal parts, and not any other p
distance. Rest all steps are same
as previous INVOLUTE. Draw

op
1t
the curve completely.
4 to p
P4 4
3
5
2
op

6
5t

1
6 to p

P5
7
to 7 P
p 8
P7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P6
150 mm
(Less than D)

D
PROBLEM 22: DRAW LOCUS OF A POINT ON THE PERIPHERY OF A CIRCLE
WHICH ROLLS ON STRAIGHT LINE PATH. Take Circle diameter as 50 mm CYCLOID
p4
4
p3 p5
3 5

C p2 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 p6 C
8
2 6

p1
1 p7
7
P p8

D

Solution Steps:
1) From center C draw a horizontal line equal to D distance.
2) Divide D distance into 8 number of equal parts and name them C1, C2, C3__ etc.
3) Divide the circle also into 8 number of equal parts and in clock wise direction, after P name 1, 2, 3 up to 8.
4) From all these points on circle draw horizontal lines. (parallel to locus of C)
5) With a fixed distance C-P in compass, C1 as center, mark a point on horizontal line from 1. Name it P.
6) Repeat this procedure from C2, C3, C4 upto C8 as centers. Mark points P2, P3, P4, P5 up to P8 on the
horizontal lines drawn from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 respectively.
7) Join all these points by curve. It is Cycloid.
PROBLEM 25: DRAW LOCUS OF A POINT ON THE PERIPHERY OF A CIRCLE
WHICH ROLLS ON A CURVED PATH. Take diameter of rolling Circle 50 mm
And radius of directing circle i.e. curved path, 75 mm.

Solution Steps:
1) When smaller circle will roll on EPI CYCLOID :
larger circle for one revolution it will
cover  D distance on arc and it will be
decided by included arc angle .
2) Calculate  by formula  = (r/R) x
Generating/
3600. Rolling Circle
3) Construct angle  with radius OC 4 5
and draw an arc by taking O as center C2 C3
C1 C4
OC as radius and form sector of angle 3 6
. C C
5
4) Divide this sector into 8 number of 7
equal angular parts. And from C 2

C6
onward name them C1, C2, C3 up to
C8.
1 P
r = CP

C7
5) Divide smaller circle (Generating
circle) also in 8 number of equal parts.
And next to P in clockwise direction Directing Circle
name those 1, 2, 3, up to 8. R C
8
6) With O as center, O-1 as radius
draw an arc in the sector. Take O-2, O- = r 3600
+

R
3, O-4, O-5 up to O-8 distances with
center O, draw all concentric arcs in O
sector. Take fixed distance C-P in
compass, C1 center, cut arc of 1 at P1.
Repeat procedure and locate P2, P3,
P4, P5 unto P8 (as in cycloid) and join
them by smooth curve. This is EPI –
CYCLOID.
 Involute
STEPS:
DRAW INVOLUTE AS USUAL. Method of Drawing
MARK POINT Q ON IT AS DIRECTED.
Tangent & Normal
JOIN Q TO THE CENTER OF CIRCLE C.
CONSIDERING CQ DIAMETER, DRAW
A SEMICIRCLE AS SHOWN. INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE

l a
rm
No
MARK POINT OF INTERSECTION OF
THIS SEMICIRCLE AND POLE CIRCLE Q
AND JOIN IT TO Q.

THIS WILL BE NORMAL TO INVOLUTE. Ta

n ge
nt
DRAW A LINE AT RIGHT ANGLE TO
THIS LINE FROM Q.

IT WILL BE TANGENT TO INVOLUTE.

4
3
5
C 2
6
1
7
8
P
P8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8


D
 CYCLOID
STEPS:
DRAW CYCLOID AS USUAL. Method of Drawing
MARK POINT Q ON IT AS DIRECTED.
Tangent & Normal
WITH CP DISTANCE, FROM Q. CUT THE
POINT ON LOCUS OF C AND JOIN IT TO Q.

FROM THIS POINT DROP A PERPENDICULAR

ON GROUND LINE AND NAME IT N

JOIN N WITH Q.THIS WILL BE NORMAL TO

CYCLOID.

l
DRAW A LINE AT RIGHT ANGLE TO

a
Norm
THIS LINE FROM Q.

IT WILL BE TANGENT TO CYCLOID.

CYCLOID

Q
Tang
e nt

CP
C C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8

P N
D