Conic Sections &

Engineering Curves
Dr. Puneet Kumar Patra
&
Dr. Paramita Bhattacharya
Conic Sections
• Ellipse, parabola and hyperbola are called conic sections because:
• These curves appear on the surface of a cone
• Depending on cutting planes you get one of the three

Ellipse

Section Plane Section Plane Parallel Section Plane

Hyperbola
Through Generators to end generator. Parallel to Axis.

• Common Definition: Locus of points moving in a plane such that the ratio of their
distances from a fixed point and a fixed line always remains constant.
• The ratio is called eccentricity (E):
• For Ellipse: E<1
• For Parabola: E=1
• For Hyperbola: E>1
Construction of an Ellipse: Concentric Circle Method
Draw ellipse by concentric circle method: Take major axis 100 mm and minor axis 70 mm
Steps: 3
2 4
1. Draw both axes as perpendicular bisectors of each
other & name their ends.
2. Taking their intersecting point as a center, draw two
1 5
concentric circles considering both as respective 2
3
4
diameters.
3. Divide both circles in 12 equal parts & name as shown. 1 5

4. From all points of outer circle draw vertical lines

downwards and upwards respectively.
5. From all points of inner circle draw horizontal lines to 10 6
intersect those vertical lines.
6. Mark all intersecting points properly as those are the 10 9 7 6
8
points on ellipse.
7. Join all these points along with the ends of both axes in
smooth possible curve. It is required ellipse. 9 7
8
Construction of an Ellipse: Rectangle Method
Draw ellipse by rectangle method: Take major axis 100 mm and minor axis 70 mm
Steps:
1. Draw a rectangle taking major and minor axes as sides.
D
2. In this rectangle draw both axes as perpendicular 4 4
bisectors of each other. 3 3
3. For construction, select upper left part of rectangle.
2 2
Divide vertical small side and horizontal long side into
same number of equal parts. 1 1
4. Name those as shown.
5. Now join all vertical points 1,2,3,4, to the upper end of A B
minor axis. Join all horizontal points i.e.1,2,3,4 to the
lower end of minor axis.
6. Then extend C-1 line upto D-1 and mark that point.
Similarly extend C-2, C-3, C-4 lines up to D-2, D-3, &
D-4 lines.
7. Mark all these points properly and join all along with C
ends A and D in smooth possible curve.
8. Join all points in smooth curve.
Construction of a Parabola: Rectangle Method
Draw the trajectory of a ball thrown in air which reaches 100 m height and 150 m along ground.
Steps: 6 6
1. Draw rectangle of above size and divide it in two equal
vertical parts. 5
5
2. Consider left part for construction. 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. 3
3
4. Similarly draw upward vertical lines from horizontal
1,2,3,4,5 and wherever these lines intersect previously
drawn inclined lines in sequence. 2 2
5. Mark those points and further join in smooth possible
curve. 1
1
6. Repeat the construction on right side rectangle also.
7. Join all in sequence.
1 2 3 4 5 6 5 4 3 2 1
Construction of a Parabola: Tangent Method
Inscribe a parabola in an isosceles triangle of base 100 mm and altitude 110 mm
Steps: C
1. Construct a triangle as per the given dimensions.
2. Divide its both sides in same number of equal parts.
3. Name the parts in ascending and descending manner,
as shown.
4. Join 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and so on.
5. Draw the curve as shown i.e. the tangent to all these
lines.
6. The above all lines being tangents to the curve, it is
called method of tangents.

A B
Construction of a Hyperbola: 1 Coordinate Known
Draw a hyperbola that passes through Point P (40 mm, 30 mm)
Steps:
2
1. Extend horizontal line from P to right side.
2. Extend 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.
5. Let them cut part [P-B] also at 1,2,3,4 points.
6. From horizontal 1,2,3,4 draw vertical lines downwards 1
and from vertical 1,2,3,4 points [from P-B] draw
horizontal lines. 2 1 P 1 2 3
7. Line from 1 horizontal and line from 1 vertical will
meet at P1. Similarly mark P2, P3, P4 points. 1
8. Repeat the procedure by marking four points on
40 mm 2
upward vertical line from P and joining all those to
pole O. 3
9. Name this points P6, P7, P8 etc. and join them by
O
smooth curve.
30 mm
Engineering Curves: Cycloid, Spiral and Helix
• Cycloid: Locus of a point on the periphery of a circle which rolls on a straight
line path.
• Spiral: Curve generated by a point which revolves around a fixed point and at the
same moves towards it.
• Involute: Curve generated by the locus of a free end of a string when it is wound
around a circular pole.
Construction of a Cycloid
Draw the cycloid for a circular wheel of diameter 50 mm as it rolls on a straight line path.
Steps:
1. From center C draw a horizontal line equal to
𝜋𝐷 distance.
p4
2. Divide 𝜋𝐷 distance into 8 number of equal 4
parts and name them C1, C2, C3, etc. p3 p5
3 5
3. Divide the circle also into 8 number of equal
parts and in clock wise direction, after P name C p2 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 p6 C
8
2 6
1, 2, 3 up to 8.
4. From all these points on circle draw horizontal p1
lines. (parallel to locus of C). 1 p7
7
5. With a fixed distance C-P in compass, C1 as P p8
center, mark a point on horizontal line from 1.
Name it P1. D
6. Repeat this procedure from C2, C3, C4 upto C8
as centers.
7. Mark points P2, P3, P4, P5 up to P8 on the
horizontal lines drawn from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
respectively. Join the points.
Construction of a Spiral
Draw a spiral of one convolution. Take distance PO 40 mm.
Steps: 2
1. With PO radius draw a circle and divide it in
EIGHT parts. Name those 1,2,3,4, etc. up to 8. P2
2. Similarly divided line PO also in EIGHT parts 3 1
P1
and name those 1,2,3,-- as shown.
3. Take O-1 distance from OP line and draw an arc P3
up to O1 radius vector. Name the point P1
4. Similarly mark points P2, P3, P4 up to P8
5. Join those in a smooth curve to obtain a 4 P4 O P
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
SPIRAL of one convolution P7

P5 P6

5 7

6
Construction of an involute
Draw the Involute of a circle. String length is equal to the circumference of circle
Steps: P2
1. End P of string AP is exactly 𝜋𝐷 distance from A
2. Divide 𝜋𝐷 (AP) distance into 8 equal parts.
3. Divide circle also into 8 number of equal parts. P3
P1
4. Name after A, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. up to 8 on 𝜋𝐷 line AP
as well as on circle (in anticlockwise direction).
5. To radius C-1, C-2, C-3 up to C-8 draw tangents
(from 1,2,3,4,etc to circle).
6. Take distance 1 to P in compass and mark it on
tangent from point 1 on circle (means one division 4
3
less than distance AP). Name this point P1 5
2
7. Take 2-B distance in compass and mark it on the 6
tangent from point 2. Name it point P2. 1
7
8. Similarly take 3 to P, 4 to P, 5 to P up to 7 to P A 8
P5 P8
distance in compass and mark on respective tangents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
P7
and locate P3, P4, P5 up to P8 (i.e. A) points and join P6
them in smooth curve it is an INVOLUTE of a given
circle.
Questions
1. A fixed point is 60 mm from a fixed straight line. Draw the locus of a point P moving in such a way that its distance
from the fixed straight line is equal to its distance from the fixed point.
2. The foci of an ellipse are 150 mm apart and the minor axis is 65 mm long. Determine the length of the major axis and
draw one half of the ellipse using the concentric circles method, and the other half using the rectangular method.
3. A point P is 30 mm and 50 mm respectively from two straight lines which are at right angles to each other. Draw a
hyperbola that passes through P.
4. A circle of diameter 100 mm rolls along a straight line without slipping. Draw the curve traced out by the point initially
located at the bottom.
5. Draw a spiral of one convolution. Take the initial-final distance as 80 mm.
6. Draw an involute of a circle of diameter 50 mm.
7. Draw a rectangle having its sides 125 mm and 75 mm. Inscribe two parabolas in it with their axis bisecting each other.
8. A circular disk of diameter 50 mm rolls along an inclined plane which makes an angle of 30 o degrees with the
horizontal. Trace the path of the bottom most point initially.
Construction of a Helix P8

P7
Draw a helix of one convolution, upon a cone, P6
diameter of base 70 mm, axis 90 mm and 90 mm P5
pitch.
P4
Steps:
1. Draw projections of a cone P3
2. Divide circle and axis in to same no. of equal
P2
parts. ( 8 )
3. Name those as shown. P1
P
4. Mark initial position of point ‘P’
5. Mark various positions of P as shown. 6

6. Join all points by smooth possible curve. 7 5

7. Make upper half dotted, as it is going behind
the solid and hence will not be seen from front P6 P5
side. P
P7 P4 4
P8

The axial advance during one complete revolution is called the P1 P3

pitch of the helix 1 3
P2
2