1

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..

Section Plane
Through Generators

Pa
rab
ola

Ellipse

Section Plane Parallel

to end generator.

Section Plane
Parallel to Axis.

Hyperbola

ENGINEERING CURVES PART -1

{Conic Sections}
ELLIPSE

PARABOLA

HYPERBOLA

1.General Method
1.General Method
1.General Method
(Directrix focus Method)
(Directrix focus
(Directrix focus Method)
2. Arcs of Circle Method
2.Rectangle Method Method)
3. Oblong Method
2.Rectangular
3. Method of Tangents
( Rectangle Method)(Triangle Method) Hyperbola
4. Concentric Circle Method
(coordinates
given)
3. Rectangular
Hyperbola
(P-V diagram Methods of Drawing
Tangents & Normals Equation given)
To These Curves.
3

COMMON DEFINITION OF ELLIPSE, PARABOLA &

HYPERBOLA:
These are the loci of points moving in a plane
such that the ratio of its distances from a
fixed point And a fixed line (directrix) always
remains constant.
The Ratio is called ECCENTRICITY. (E)

A) For Ellipse
E<1
B) For Parabola E=1
C) For Hyperbola E>1

PROBLEM 1:- Point F is 60 mm from a line AB. A point P is moving in a plane

Such that the ratio of its distances from F and line AB remains constant
And equals to 2/3 draw locus of point P. { Eccentricity = 2/3 }

DIRECTRIX-FOCUS METHOD

ELLIPSE

DIRECTRIX

STEPS:
1.Draw a vertical line AB and point F 60
mm from it.
2.Divide 60 mm distance in 5 parts.
3.Name 2nd part from F as V. It is 24mm
and 36mm from F and AB line resp.
4.Draw perpendicular line at V with a
distance of VF. ( VG = VF).
5.Consider few vertical lines 1-11 , 2-21 ,
3-31
6.With center F and radius 1-11 draw arc
on the 1st vertical line and also with the
same center and radius 2-21 draw arc on
the 2nd vertical line and repeat steps.
7.Join all these Points with V in smooth
curve.

ELLIPSE

(vertex) V

F ( focus)

B
5

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

DIRECTRIX

Problem 14:

ELLIPSE

STEPS:
1.Join point Q to F.
2.Construct 900 angle with
This line at point F
3.Extend the line to meet directrix
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.

(vertex) V

F ( focus)
900

PROBLEM 9: Point F is 60 mm from a vertical straight line AB.

Draw locus of point P, moving in a plane such that
it always remains equidistant from point F and line AB.
STEPS:
1.Draw a vertical line AB and point F 60
mm from it.
2.Divide CF (60 mm) distance in 2 parts.
3.Name midpoint as V.
4.Draw perpendicular line at V with a
distance of VF. ( VG = VF).
5.Consider few vertical lines 1-11 , 2-21 ,
3-31
6.With center F and radius 1-11 draw arc
on the 1st vertical line and also with the
same center and radius 2-21 draw arc on
the 2nd vertical line and repeat steps.
7.Join all these Points with V in smooth
curve.

PARABOLA

DIRECTRIX-FOCUS METHOD

PARABOLA

(VERTEX) V
1 2 3 4

F
( focus)

It will be the locus of P equidistance

from line AB and fixed point F.

B
7

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

PARABOLA

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

VERTEX V

900

F
( focus)
N

T
8

PROBLEM 12:- POINT F IS 60 MM FROM A LINE AB.

A POINT P IS MOVING IN A PLANE SUCH THAT THE RATIO
OF ITS DISTANCES FROM F AND LINE AB REMAINS
CONSTANT AND EQUALS TO 3/2
DRAW LOCUS OF POINT P. { ECCENTRICITY = 3/2 }

HYPERBOLA
DIRECTRIX
FOCUS METHOD

STEPS:
1.Draw a vertical line AB and point F 60 mm
from it.
2.Divide 60 mm distance in 5 parts.
3.Name 2nd part from F as V. It is 36mm and
24mm from F and AB line resp.
4.Draw perpendicular line at V with a
distance of VF. ( VG = VF).
5.Consider few vertical lines 1-11 , 2-21 , 331
6.With center F and radius 1-11 draw arc on
the 1st vertical line and also with the same
center and radius 2-21 draw arc on the 2nd
vertical line and repeat steps.
7.Join all these Points with V in smooth
curve.

(vertex)

F ( focus)

HYPERBOLA
TANGENT & NORMAL
A

TO DRAW TANGENT & NORMAL

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

(vertex)

F ( focus)

900
N

B
T

10

SECOND DEFINATION OF AN ELLIPSE:It is a locus of a point moving in a plane

such that the SUM of its 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

11

PROBLEM 4.
Major axis AB & minor axis CD are
150mm and 100mm long respectively.
Draw ellipse by arcs of circles Method.
Draw a tangent to a ellipse at a point on
it 25mm below the major axis.

BY ARCS OF CIRCLE METHOD

As per the definition Ellipse is locus of point P moving in
a plane such that the SUM of its distances from two fixed
points (F1 & F2) remains constant and equals to the length
of major axis AB.(Note A .1+ B .1=A . 2 + B. 2 = AB)

STEPS:
1.Draw both axes as usual. Name the
ends & intersecting point
2.Taking AO distance i.e.half major
axis, from C, mark F1 & F2 On AB .
( focus 1 and 2.)
3.On line F1- O taking any distance,
mark points 1,2,3, & 4
4.Taking F1 center, with distance A-1
draw an arc above AB and taking F2
center, with B-1 distance cut this arc.
Name the point p1
5.Repeat this step with same centers but
taking now A-2 & B-2 distances for
drawing arcs. Name the point p2
6.Similarly get all other P points.
With same steps positions of P can be
located below AB.
7.Join all points by smooth curve to get
an ellipse/

ELLIPSE

p4

p3

p2
p1

F1

F2

D
12

TO DRAW TANGENT & NORMAL

TO THE CURVE FROM A GIVEN POINT ( Q )
1. Join Point Q To F1 & F2
2. Bisect Angle F1Q F2 . The Angle Bisector Is Normal
3. A Perpendicular Line Drawn To It Is Tangent To The Curve.

p4

p3

ELLIPSE
TANGENT & NORMAL

p2
p1

B
F2

AL

F1

NOR
M

TAN
GE
NT

D
13

Steps:
1 Draw a rectangle taking major
and minor axes as sides.
2. In this rectangle draw both
axes as perpendicular bisectors
of each other..
3. For construction, select upper
left part of rectangle. Divide
vertical small side and horizontal
long side into same number of
equal parts.( here divided in four
parts)
4. Name those as shown..
5. Now join all vertical points
1,2,3,4, to the upper end of minor
axis. And 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 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.
It is required ellipse.

ELLIPSE

BY RECTANGLE METHOD

Problem 2
Draw ellipse by Rectangle method.
Take major axis 150 mm and minor axis 90 mm long.

14

Problem 3:- Draw ellipse by Oblong method.

Draw a parallelogram of 100 mm and 70 mm long
sides with included angle of 750.Inscribe Ellipse in it.
STEPS ARE SIMILAR TO
THE PREVIOUS CASE
(RECTANGLE METHOD)
ONLY IN PLACE OF RECTANGLE,
HERE IS A PARALLELOGRAM.

ELLIPSE

BY OBLONG METHOD

D
4

3
2

2
1

15

ELLIPSE

Problem 1 :Draw ellipse by concentric circle method.

Take major axis 100 mm and minor axis 70 mm long.

Steps:
1. Draw both axes as perpendicular bisectors
of each other & name their ends as shown.
2. Taking their intersecting point as a center,
draw two concentric circles considering both
as respective diameters.
3. Divide both circles in 12 equal parts &
name as shown.
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 intersect those vertical
lines.
6. Mark all intersecting points properly as
those are the points on ellipse.
7. Join all these points along with the ends of
both axes in smooth possible curve. It is
required ellipse.

BY CONCENTRIC CIRCLE METHOD

3
2

4
C

1
2

5
4

B
10
10

6
9

8
D

7
8
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Problems
1.A fixed point is 75mm from a straight line. Draw the locus of a point P moving such a way that
its distance from fixed straight line is
i) twice its distance from the fixed point
ii) equal to its distance from the fixed point. Name the curves.
2.Two fixed points F1 and F2 are 100mm apart. Trace the complete path of a point P moving (in
the same plane as that of F1 and F2) in such a way that the sum of distance F 1 and F2 is always
the same and equal to 125mm. Name the curve. Draw the another curve parallel to 25mm away
from this curve.
3.The sum of the distance of point P from two fixed points is 120mm and the distance between
the fixed points is 80mm draw the locus of the Point P.
4.Construct an ellipse when the major axis is 120mm and the distance between foci is 108mm.
Determine the length of the minor axis.
5.The major axis of an ellipse is 100mm and the minor axis is 55mm. Find the foci and construct
the ellipse by Intersecting Arcs method.
[EEE
JAN 2015]
6.A Plot of a ground is in the shape of a rectangle 110mm X 50mm. inscribe an elliptical lawn in
it. Take a suitable scale.
[ECE JAN 2015]
7.Construct an ellipse of 120mm major axis and 80mm minor axis using concentric circles
method?
[CSEAUG 2014]
8.The major axis of an ellipse is 150mm long and the minor axis is 100mm long. Find the foci
and draw the ellipse by arcs of circle method. Draw a tangent to the ellipse at a point on it 25mm
above the major axis.
[ECE JAN 2015]
9.The foci of an ellipse are 90mm apart and the minor axis is 72mm long. Determine the length
of the major axis. Construct the ellipse.
[ECE
FEB 2014].
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10.The major and minor axes of an elliptical fish pond are 10m and 6m respectively. Draw the