Chapter

8 PROJECTIONS OF
POINTS

8.1 INTRODUCTION
A point is defined as a geometrical element that has no dimension. In engineering drawing, a point is rep-
resented by a dot. This chapter deals with the projections of points.

8.2 LOCATION OF A POINT

The orthographic projections are obtained on two principal planes (also known as reference planes) having
negligible thickness, namely vertical plane (V.P.) and horizontal plane (H.P.) as shown in Fig. 7.4(a) and (b).
The principal planes are perpendicular to each other and divide the space into four quadrants. A point lying
in the space can be defined in one of the following positions with respect to the principal planes.
1. Above the H.P. and in front of the V.P.
2. Above the H.P. and behind the V.P.
3. Below the H.P. and behind the V.P.
4. Below the H.P. and in front of the V.P.
5. On the H.P. and in front of the V.P.
6. Above the H.P. and on the V.P.
7. On the H.P. and behind the V.P.
8. Below the H.P. and on the V.P.
9. On both the H.P. and the V.P.

8.3 CONVENTIONAL REPRESENTATION

The actual position of a point is designated by capital letters such as A, B, C, P, Q, R, etc. Its front view
of is drawn on the vertical plane, the top view is drawn on the horizontal plane and the side view is drawn
on the profile plane. The line of intersection of the principal planes is known as a reference line or xy line.
The reference line should be drawn as continuous narrow line.
It is customary to rotate the H.P. in a clockwise direction about the reference line xy through 90°, such
that it becomes co-planer with the V.P. Similarly, the profile plane is rotated about the reference line x1y1
through 90°, such that it also becomes co-planer with the V.P. This makes the front, the top and the side
views coplanar when drawn on the sheet. The conventions used to represent the projections of a point are
as follows:
1. The front view is represented by small letters with dashes such as a¢, b¢, c¢, p¢, q¢, r¢, etc.
2. The top view is represented by small letters without dashes such as a, b, c, p, q, r, etc.
 8.2 Engineering Drawing

3. The side view is represented by small letters with double dashes such as a≤, b≤, c≤, p≤, q≤, r≤, etc.
The lines connecting the front, the top and the side views of a point are called projection lines or pro-
jectors. They are drawn as thin continuous line. The projector connecting the front and the top views of a
point is always perpendicular to the xy. Similarly, the projector connecting the front and the side views of
a point is always perpendicular to the x1y1.

8.4 POINT ABOVE THE H.P. AND IN FRONT OF THE V.P.

A point situated above the H.P. and in front of V.P., lies in the first angle as shown in Fig. 8.1(a).

Problem 8.1 Draw the front and the top views of a point A, lying 70 mm above the H.P. and 50 mm
in front of the V.P. Also draw the side view.

x1
a' a"

70
o
x y
50

y1

(a) (b)

Fig. 8.1 Point above the H.P. and in front of the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

Visualisation Figure 8.1(a) shows point A lying in the first angle which is 70 mm above the H.P. and
50 mm in front of the V.P. Its front view (a¢) is obtained on the V.P., 70 mm above the xy and the top
view (a) is obtained on the H.P., 50 mm in front of xy.
Now rotate the H.P. in clockwise direction about the xy through 90°, such that it becomes co-planer
with the V.P. The final projections of the point as obtained are shown in Fig. 8.1(b). The front view (a¢)
is 70 mm above the xy and the top view (a) is 50 mm below the xy. The projector connecting the front
and the top views (a¢a) is perpendicular to xy.
Construction Refer to Fig. 8.1(b).
1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.
3. Mark a¢ on the projector, 70 mm above the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark a on the projector, 50 mm below the xy to represent the top view.
5. Locate a new reference line x1y1. Mark a≤ on the projector, at 70 mm above the xy and 50 mm
away from the x1y1. Point a≤ represents the side view.
 Projections of Points 8.3

8.5 POINT ABOVE THE H.P. AND BEHIND THE V.P.

A point situated above the H.P. and behind the V.P., lies in the second angle as shown in Fig. 8.2(a).

Problem 8.2 Draw the projections of a point B, lying 70 mm above the H.P. and 50 mm behind the V.P.

b'

70

50
o
x y

(b)

(a)

Fig. 8.2 Point above the H.P. and behind the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

Visualisation Figure 8.2(a) shows point B lying in the second angle which is 70 mm above the H.P. and
50 mm behind the V.P. Its front view (b¢) is obtained on the V.P., 70 mm above the xy and the top view
(b) is obtained on the H.P., 50 mm behind the xy.
Now rotate the H.P. in clockwise direction about the xy through 90°, such that it becomes co-planer
with the V.P. The final projections of the point as obtained are shown in Fig. 8.2(b). The front view (b¢) is
70 mm above the xy and the top view (b) is 50 mm above the xy. The projector connecting the front and
the top views (b¢b) is perpendicular to xy.
Construction Refer to Fig. 8.2(b).
1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.
3. Mark b¢ on the projector, 70 mm above the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark b on the projector, 50 mm above the xy to represent the top view.

8.6 POINT BELOW THE H.P. AND BEHIND THE V.P.

A point situated below the H.P. and behind the V.P., lies in the third angle as shown in Fig. 8.3(a).

Problem 8.3 Draw the projections of a point C, lying 70 mm below the H.P. and 50 mm behind the V.P.
Visualisation Figure 8.3(a) shows point C lying in the third angle which is 70 mm below the H.P. and
50 mm behind the V.P. Its front view (c¢) is obtained on the V.P., 70 mm below the xy and the top view
(c) is obtained on the H.P., 50 mm behind xy.
 8.4 Engineering Drawing

50
o
x y

70
c'

(a) (b)

Fig. 8.3 Point below the H.P. and behind the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

Now rotate the H.P. in a clockwise direction about the xy through 90°, such that it becomes co-planer
with the V.P. The final projections of the point as obtained are shown in Fig. 8.3(b). The front view (c¢)
is 70 mm below the xy and the top view (c) is 50 mm above the xy. The projector connecting the front
and the top views (c¢c) is perpendicular to xy.
Construction Refer to Fig. 8.3(b).
1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.
3. Mark c¢ on the projector, 70 mm below the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark c on the projector, 50 mm above the xy to represent the top view.

8.7 POINT BELOW THE H.P. AND IN FRONT OF THE V.P.

A point situated below the H.P. and in front of the V.P., lies in the fourth angle as shown in Fig. 8.4(a).

Problem 8.4 Draw the projections of a point D, lying 70 mm below the H.P. and 50 mm in front of
the V.P.
Visualisation Figure 8.4(a) shows point D lying in the fourth angle which is 70 mm below the H.P.
and 50 mm in front of the V.P. Its front view (d¢) is obtained on the V.P., 70 mm below the xy and the
top view (d) is obtained on the H.P., 50 mm in front of xy.
Now rotate the H.P. in a clockwise direction about the xy through 90°, such that it becomes co-planer
with the V.P. The final projections of the point as obtained are shown in Fig. 8.4(b). The front view (d¢)
is 70 mm below the xy and the top view (d) is 50 mm below the xy. The projector connecting the front
and the top views (d¢d) is perpendicular to xy.
Construction Refer to Fig. 8.4(b).
1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.
3. Mark d¢ on the projector, 70 mm below the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark d on the projector, 50 mm below the xy to represent the top view.
 Projections of Points 8.5

o
x y

50
70
d

d'
(b)

(a)

Fig. 8.4 Point below the H.P. and in front of the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

8.8 POINT ON THE H.P. AND IN FRONT OF THE V.P.

A point situated on the H.P. and in front of the V.P. is shown in Fig. 8.5(a).

Problem 8.5 Draw the projections of a point E, lying on the H.P. and 50 mm in front of the V.P.

o e'
x y
50

(b)

(a)

Fig. 8.5 Point on the H.P. and in front of the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

Visualisation Figure 8.5(a) shows point E lying in the desired position. Its front view (e¢) is obtained
on the xy and the top view (e) is obtained 50 mm in front of the xy. Now rotate the H.P. in clockwise
direction about the xy through 90°, such that it becomes co-planer with the V.P. The final projections of
the point as obtained are shown in Fig. 8.5(b).
Construction Refer to Fig. 8.5(b).
1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
 8.6 Engineering Drawing

2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.

3. Mark e¢ at the intersection of projector and the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark e on the projector, 50 mm below the xy to represent the top view.

8.9 POINT ABOVE THE H.P. AND ON THE V.P.

A point situated above the H.P. and on the V.P. is shown in Fig. 8.6(a).

Problem 8.6 Draw the projections of a point F, lying 70 mm above the H.P. and on the V.P.

f'

70
o
x y
f

(b)

(a)

Fig. 8.6 Point above the H.P. and on the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

Visualisation Figure 8.6(a) shows point F lying in the desired position. Its front view (f¢) is obtained
on xy and the top view (f) is obtained 50 mm in front of xy. Now rotate the H.P. in clockwise direction
about the xy through 90°, such that it becomes co-planer with the V.P. The final projections of the point
as obtained are shown in Fig. 8.6(b).
Construction Refer to Fig. 8.6(b).
1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.
3. Mark f¢ on the projector, 70 mm above the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark f at the intersection of projector and the xy to represent the top view.

8.10 POINT ON THE H.P. AND BEHIND THE V.P.

A point situated on the H.P. and behind the V.P. is shown in Fig. 8.7(a).

Problem 8.7 Draw the projections of a point G, lying on the H.P. and 50 mm behind the V.P.
Construction Refer to Fig. 8.7(b).
1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
 Projections of Points 8.7

50
x y
o g'

(b)

(a)

Fig. 8.7 Point on the H.P. and in front of the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.

3. Mark g¢ at the intersection of projector and the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark g on the projector, 50 mm above the xy to represent the top view.

8.11 POINT BELOW THE H.P. AND ON V.P.

A point situated below the H.P. and on the V.P. is shown in Fig. 8.8(a).

Problem 8.8 Draw the projections of a point H, lying 70 mm above the H.P. and on the V.P.

o h
x y
70

h'

(a) (b)

Fig. 8.8 Point above the H.P. and on the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

Construction Refer to Fig. 8.8(b).

1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
2. Draw a vertical projector from any point on the xy.
3. Mark h¢ on the projector, 70 mm below the xy to represent the front view.
4. Mark h at the intersection of projector and the xy to represent the top view.
 8.8 Engineering Drawing

8.12 POINT ON BOTH H.P. AND V.P.

A point situated on both the H.P. and the V.P. is shown in Fig. 8.9(a).

Problem 8.9 Draw the projections of a point J, lying on both the H.P. and the V.P.

j' j
x y
(b)

(a)

Fig. 8.9 Point on both the H.P. and the V.P. (a) 3-D view (b) Projections

Construction Refer to Fig. 8.9(b).

1. Draw a horizontal line xy to represent the reference line.
2. Mark coinciding points j¢ and j on the xy to represent the front and the top views.

8.13 SUMMARY
The projections obtained in Problems 8.1 to 8.9 can be summarised in Table 8.1.
1. (a) If the point is h mm above the H.P. then the front view is h mm above the xy,
(b) If the point is on the H.P. then the front view is on the xy.
(c) If the point is h mm below the H.P. then the front view is h mm below the xy.
2. (a) If the point is v mm in front of the V.P. then the top view is v mm below the xy,
(b) If the point is on the V.P. then the top view is on the xy.
(c) If the point is v mm behind the V.P. then the top view is v mm above the xy.
The vice versa of the above statements is also true.

8.14 MISCELLANEOUS PROBLEMS

Problem 8.10 Draw the projections of the following points on a common reference line keeping the
distance between their projectors 30 mm apart.
(a) Point A is 20 mm below the H.P. and 50 mm in front of the V.P.
(b) Point B is in the H.P. and 40 mm behind the V.P.
 Projections of Points 8.9

(c) Point C is 30 mm in front of the V.P. and in the H.P.

(d) Point D is 50 mm above the H.P. and 30 mm behind the V.P.
(e) Point E is 20 mm below the H.P. and 50 mm behind the V.P.
(f) Point F is in the V.P. and 50 mm below the H.P.
Solution

Fig. 8.10

Problem 8.11 Projection of various points is given in Fig. 8.12. State the position of each point with
respect to the planes of projection.

Fig. 8.11

Solution
(a) Point A is 30 mm above the H.P. and 50 mm in front of the V.P.
(b) Point B is in the H.P. and 40 mm in front of the V.P.
(c) Point C is 50 mm below the H.P. and in the V.P.
(d) Point D is 20 mm above the H.P. and 50 mm behind the V.P.
(e) Point E is 30 mm below the H.P. and 40 mm behind the V.P.
 8.10 Engineering Drawing

EXERCISE 8A
8.1 A point is 30 mm from the H.P. and 50 mm from the (g) Point G is 25 mm below the H.P. and 40 mm
V.P. Draw its projections keeping it in all possible in front of the V.P.
positions. (h) Point H is in the V.P. and 30 mm below the H.P.
8.2 Draw the projections of the following points on a 8.3 Draw the projections of the following points on a
common reference line keeping the distance between common reference line keeping the distance between
their projectors 25 mm apart. their projectors 30 mm apart.
(a) Point A is 40 mm above the H.P. and 25 mm (a) Point P is 35 mm below the H.P. and in the V.P.
in front of the V.P. (b) Point Q is 40 mm in front of the V.P. and 25
(b) Point B is 40 mm above the H.P. and in the V.P. mm below the H.P.
(c) Point C is 25 mm in front of the V.P. and in the (c) Point R is 45 mm above the H.P. and 20 mm
H.P. behind the V.P.
(d) Point D is 25 mm above the H.P. and 30 mm (d) Point S is 30 mm below the H.P. and 45 mm
behind the V.P. behind the V.P.
(e) Point E is in the H.P. and 30 mm behind the (e) Point T is both in H.P. and V.P.
V.P. 8.4 Projection of various points is given in Fig. E8.1.
(f) Point F is 40 mm below the H.P. and 30 mm State the position of each point with respect to the
behind the V.P. planes of projection.

Fig. E8.1

VIVA-VOCE QUESTIONS
8.1 If both the views of a point coincide with each other 8.4 State the position of the point, the top view of which
and lie below the reference line, state the angle in lies 50 mm above the reference line and the front
which the point lies. view 30 mm below the top view.
8.2 State the similarities and dissimilarities in the projec- 8.5 If the front view of a point lies above the reference line,
tions of points which lie in the second angle and the state the possible angles in which the point may lie.
fourth angle. 8.6 If the top view of a point lies above the reference line,
8.3 State the position of the point, the front view of state the possible angles in which the point may lie.
which lies 50 mm below the reference line and the 8.7 If the front view of a point lies below the reference line,
top view 30 mm above the front view. state the possible angles in which the point may lie.
 Projections of Points 8.11

8.8 If the top view of a point lies below the reference line, 8.12 State the position of the point, the front view of
state the possible angles in which the point may lie. which lies on the reference line and the top view
8.9 State the relationship between front view and top 50 mm below it.
view of a point. 8.13 State the position of the point, the top view of which
8.10 State the position of the point if its both views lie lies on the reference line and the front view 45 mm
on the reference line. above it.
8.11 State the position of the point, the top view of which 8.14 State the position of the point, the front view of
lies on the reference line and the front view 50 mm which lies on the reference line and the top view
below it. 35 mm above it.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
8.1 The line joining the front and top views of a point 8.8 If both the front and the top views of a point lie
is called on the same side of the reference line, the point is
(a) reference line (b) projector situated in which of the following angles?
(c) connector (d) locus (a) first or second (b) first or third
8.2 A point lying in the H.P., has its top view above xy. (c) second or fourth (d) third or fourth
Its front view is 8.9 If top view of a point is situated 60 mm below the
(a) on xy (b) above xy reference line and its front view is 20 mm above the
(c) below xy (d) Any of these top view, the point lies in
8.3 A point whose elevation and plan are above xy, is (a) first angle (b) second angle
situated in (c) third angle (d) fourth angle
(a) first angle (b) second angle 8.10 The front view of a point is 40 mm above xy and
(c) third angle (d) fourth angle the top view is 50 mm below xy. The point is
8.4 A point whose elevation is above the reference line, (a) 40 mm above H.P.
is probably situated in the (b) 40 mm below H.P.
(a) first angle (b) second angle (c) 50 mm above H.P.
(c) vertical plane (d) Any of these (d) 50 mm below H.P.
8.5 A point is 20 mm below H.P. and 30 mm behind 8.11 State the position of a point the front view of which
V.P. Its top view is lies on the reference line and the top view is 40 mm
(a) 20 mm below xy (b) 30 mm below xy above it.
(c) 20 mm above xy (d) 30 mm above xy (a) 40 mm above H.P. and in the V.P.
8.6 The front view of a point is 50 mm above the refer- (b) 40 mm behind V.P. and in the H.P.
ence line and the top view is 20 mm below the front (c) 40 mm below H.P. and in the V.P.
view. The point lies in (d) 40 mm in front of V.P. and in the H.P.
(a) first angle (b) second angle 8.12 State the position of a point the top view of which
(c) third angle (d) fourth angle lies on the reference line and the front view is
8.7 If both the front and the top views of a point lie on 30 mm below it.
the opposite side of the reference line, the point is (a) 30 mm above H.P. and in the V.P.
situated in which of the following angles? (b) 30 mm behind V.P. and in the H.P.
(a) first or second (b) first or third (c) 30 mm below H.P. and in the V.P.
(c) second or fourth (d) third or fourth (d) 30 mm in front of V.P. and in the H.P.

Answers to multiple-choice questions

8.1 (b), 8.2 (a), 8.3 (b), 8.4 (d), 8.5 (d), 8.6 (b), 8.7 (b), 8.8 (c), 8.9 (d), 8.10 (a), 8.11 (b), 8.12 (c)