MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

Tangency
Definition

A tangent to a circle is a straight line that touches the circle at one point.

Every curve ever drawn could have tangents drawn to it, but this chapter is concerned only with
tangents to circles. These have wide applications in engineering drawing since the outlines of
most engineering details are made up of straight lines and arcs. Wherever a straight line meets an
arc, a tangent meets a circle.

Constructions
To draw a tangent to a circle from any point on the circumference (Fig. 5.1)

1. Draw the radius of the circle.

2. At any point on the circumference of a circle, the tangent and the radius are perpendicular to
each other. Thus, the tangent is found by constructing an angle of 90 ° from the point where the
radius crosses the circumference.

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

A basic geometric theorem is that the angle in a semi-circle is a right angle (Fig. 5.2)

This fact is made use of in many tangent constructions.

To construct a tangent from a point P to a circle, centre O (Fig. 5.3).

1. Join OP.

2. Erect a semi-circle on OP to cut the circle in A.

PA produced is the required tangent (OA is the radius and is perpendicular to PA since it is the
angle in a semi-circle). There are, of course, two tangents to the circle from P but only one has
been shown for clarity.

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

To construct a common tangent to two equal circles (Fig. 5.4).

1. Join the centres of the two circles.

2. From each centre, construct lines at 90 ° to the centre line. The intersection of these
perpendiculars with the circles gives the points of tangency.

This tangent is often described as the common exterior tangent.

To construct the common interior (or transverse or cross) tangent to two equal circles,
centres O and O1 Fig. 5.5)

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

1. Join the centres OO1.

2. Bisect OO1 in A.

3. Bisect OA in B and draw a semi-circle, radius BA to cut the circle in C.

4. With centre A and radius AC, draw an arc to cut the second circle in D.

CO is the required tangent.

To construct the common tangent between two unequal circles, centres O and O 1 and radii
R and r, respectively (Fig. 5.6).

1. Join the centres OO1.

2. Bisect OO1 in A and draw a semi-circle, radius AO.

3. Draw a circle, centre O, radius R-r, to cut the semi-circle in B.

4. Join OB and produce to cut the larger circle in C.

5. Draw O1D parallel to OC.

CD is the required tangent.

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

To construct the common internal tangent between two unequal circles, centres O and O1

and radii R and r , respectively( Fig. 5.7 ).

1. Join the centres OO1.

2. Bisect OO1 in A and draw a semi-circle, radius OA.

3. Draw a circle, centre O, radius R+ r, to cut the semi-circle in B.

4. Join OB. This cuts the larger circle in C.

5. Draw O1D parallel to OB.

CD is the required tangent.

A tangent is, by definition, a straight line. However, we do often talk of radii or curves meeting
each other tangentially. We mean, of course, that the curves meet smoothly and with no change
of shape or bumps. This topic, the blending of lines and curves, will be discussed in the next
section.

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

Exercise 5

1. A former in a jig for bending metal is shown in Fig. 1.

(a)Draw the former, full size, showing in full the construction for obtaining the tangent joining
the two arcs.

(b) Determine, without calculation, the centres of the four equally spaced holes to be bored in the
positions indicated in the figure.

2. Figure 2 shows a centre finder, or centre square in position on a 75 mm diameter bar.

Draw, full size, the shape of the centre finder and the piece of round bar. Show clearly the
constructions for:

(a) the tangent, AA, to the two arcs;

(b) the points of contact and the centre for the 44 mm radius at B;

(c) the points of contact and the centre for the 50 mm radius at C.

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

3. Figure 3 shows the outline of two pulley wheels connected by a belt of negligible thick-ness.
To a scale of 1:10 draw the figure showing the construction necessary to obtain the points of
contact of the belt and pulleys.

4. (a) Draw the figure ABCP shown in Fig. 4 and construct a circle, centre O, to pass through the
points A, B and C.

(b) Construct a tangent to this circle touching the circle at point B.

(c) Construct a tangent from the point P to touch the circle on the minor arc of the chord AC.

5. Figure 5 shows a metal blank. Draw the blank, full size, showing clearly the constructions
for obtaining the tangents joining the arcs.

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

6. Figure 6 shows the outlines of three pulley wheels connected by a taut belt. Draw the figure,
full size, showing clearly the constructions for obtaining the points of contact of the belt and
pulleys.

7. Figure 7 shows the outline of a metal blank. Draw the blank, full size, showing clearly the
constructions for finding exact positions of the tangents joining the arcs.

8. A segment of a circle stands on a chord AB which measures 50 mm. The angle in the
segment is 55 °. Draw the segment. Produce the chord AB to C making BC 56 mm long. From C
construct a tangent to the arc of the segment.

9. A and B are two points 100 mm apart. With B as centre draw a circle 75 mm diameter. From
A draw two lines AC and AD which are tangential to the circle AC=150 mm. From C construct
another tangent to the circle to form a triangle ACD. Measure and state the lengths CD and AD,
also angle CDA.

10. Figure 8 shows two circles, A and B, and a common external tangent and a common internal
tangent. Construct (a) the given circles and tangents and (b) the smaller circle that is tangential
to circle B and the two given tangents.

Measure and state the distance between the centres of the constructed circle and circle A.

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MPE 161: Simple geometrical constructions

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