The shape of a solid viewed from a particular direction is called an orthographic view. The shape of a solid is represented by combining views from three directions: front, side, and top.
Front View, Side View, and Top View
- Front view: The shape viewed from the front
- Side view: The shape viewed from the side
- Top view (plan view): The shape viewed from above
📘 Example ①
State the shapes of a cylinder viewed from the front, side, and top.
Answer: Front→rectangle, side→rectangle, top→circle
State the shapes of a cylinder viewed from the front, side, and top.
Answer: Front→rectangle, side→rectangle, top→circle
📘 Example ②
State the shapes of a cone viewed from the front, side, and top.
Answer: Front→isosceles triangle, side→isosceles triangle, top→circle (concentric-circle point)
State the shapes of a cone viewed from the front, side, and top.
Answer: Front→isosceles triangle, side→isosceles triangle, top→circle (concentric-circle point)
💡 Key Points
- Identify a solid by combining its three orthographic views
- When viewed from above, the shape of the base can be seen (prisms and pyramids)
- A sphere appears as a circle from every direction
Practice Problem
- State the shapes of a regular square prism (a prism with a square base) viewed from the front, side, and top.
Answer and Explanation
- Answer: Front→rectangle, side→rectangle, top→square.