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AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules
®

AutoCAD 2D
Module 10
Drawing Lines Using Polar Coordinates

Learning Outcomes:
When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe angle geometry and the Polar Coordinate System.

2. Use the LINE command to draw lines using the Polar Coordinate System.

Geometry Lesson
Angles
An angle is formed by two intersecting lines. A full circle is 360 degrees. AutoCAD defines
zero degrees at 3:00 o'clock with the positive angle in the counterclockwise direction and a
negative angle in the clockwise direction. Study the drawings below. The principles you will
learn are used extensively in AutoCAD.

...continued on page 10-2

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Angles - Continued

All angles can be express as positive or a negative angle. AutoCAD will accept either.

...continued on page 10-3

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Angles - Continued
Using the principles you just learned, find the answers A to L in the figures shown below.
Try to do the calculation in your head. The answers are on page 10-13.

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The Polar Coordinate System

The Polar Coordinate System is used to draw lines using a distance and an angle from a known
coordinate location. All angles are measured starting 0 degrees at 3:00 o'clock. The angles
are positive in the counterclockwise direction and negative in the clockwise direction. See
Figure 10-1.
In almost all cases, you would use the @ symbol in front of the distance and angle. The first
number is the distance, then the less than symbol, and next the angle either positive or
negative.
For example:
@6<45
This means "from the
last point, go 6 units
at an angle of 45
degrees, positive,
starting at 3 o'clock".
AutoCAD always
assumes positive as
default. Therefore,
you do not have to
indicate positive.
For example:
@5<-60
This means "from the
last point, go 5 units
at an angle of
negative 60 degrees
starting at 3:00
o'clock". The polar
coordinate @5<300 Figure 10-1
would mean the same The Polar Coordinate System
to AutoCAD.

AutoCAD measures angles

starting 0 degrees at 3:00 o'clock.
Positive angles are in the
counterclockwise direction and
negative angles are in the
clockwise direction. The start point can be
changed as you will see in a future module. It is
important to leave it set in the default setting while
doing lab exercises in the AutoCAD Modules.

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Using the Polar Coordinate System - Part 1

Workalong and calculate the angles and polar coordinates. Do not draw
the objects in AutoCAD.

Step 1 Study Object A shown below and the solutions for numbers 1 to 6.

Step 2 Find the answers for numbers 7 to 11. The answers are on page 10-15. Don't
look at the answers until you think you have correctly solved each one.

Object A Solution:

1. Find the polar coordinate A TO B: @2<0

2. Calculate the first angle: 180 - 150 = 30 degrees
3. Find the polar coordinate B TO C: @2<30
4. Copy the 30 degree angle to the next corner.
5. Calculate the second angle: 180 - 110 = 70 degrees
6. Add the two angles: 30 + 70 = 100
7. Find the polar coordinate C TO D: @_____<_______
8. Copy the angle 100 to the next corner.
9. Calculate angle DD: DD = __________
10. Find angle EE: EE = _________
11. Find the polar coordinate D TO E: @_____<___
...continued on page 10-6

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Using the Polar Coordinate System - Part 1 - Continued

Step 3 Study Object B shown below and find the solutions for numbers 1 to 11. The
answers are on page 10-15. Don't look at the answers until you think you have correctly
solved each number.

Object B Solution:

1. Find polar coordinate A TO B @_____<_______

2. Calculate angle AA: ____________
3. Find polar coordinate B TO C @_____<_______
4. Copy angle AA to the next corner
5. Calculate angle BB ___________
6. Find angle CC ___________
7. Find polar coordinate C TO D @_____<_______
8. Copy angle CC to the next corner
9. Calculate angle DD __________
10. Find angle EE _________
11. Find polar coordinate D TO E @_____<_______

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Using the Polar Coordinate System - Part 2

Step 1 Start a new drawing using the template Module Template A.
Step 2 Save and name the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 10-1.

Step 3 Create layer Object and Construction as

shown in Figure Step 3.

Step 4 Set layer Object as the current layer and

enter the LINE command shown below to draw the
Figure Step 3 object shown.

LINE DISTANCE
A-B 3
B-C 2
C-D 2
D-E 1.5
E-F 1
F-G 2
G-H 1.5

Object to be Drawn

Command: L
Specify first point: 2.5,4.5
(Start with a absolute Cartesian
coordinate.)
Specify next point or [Undo]: @3<0
(A to B is a horizontal line which is
zero degrees.)
Specify next point or [Undo]: @2<90
(B to C is a vertical line at 90
degrees.)
See Figure Step 4A Figure Step 4A
..continued on page 10-8

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Using the Polar Coordinate System - Part 2 - Continued

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @2<45

(C to D is 45 degrees positive.)
See Figure Step 4B

Figure Step 4B

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @1.5<100

(D to E)
See Figure Step 4C

Figure Step 4C

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @1<180

(E to F is a horizontal line at 180 degrees.)
See Figure Step 4D Figure Step 4D

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:

@2<225
(F to G)
See Figure Step 4E

..continued on page 10-9

Figure Step 4E

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Using the Polar Coordinate System Part 2 - Continued

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @1.5<165
(G to H)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: C
(Use Close to finish.)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:
Command:
See Figure Step 4F

Figure Step 4F
Completed Step 5 Save and close the drawing.
Drawing

Object Snap Modes for all Objects

Modes Abbreviations Icon Marker The AutoCAD Object

Intersection Int

Using Intersection - Object Snap Mode

Step 1 Start a new drawing using the template Module Template A.
Step 2 Save and name the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 10-2.

Step 3 Create the layers Object and

Construction as shown in Figure Step 3.

Figure Step 3

..continued on page 10-10

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Using Intersection - Object Snap Mode - continued

Step 4 Set layer Construction as the

current layer and then enter the commands
shown below.

Command: L
Specify first point: 2,5
Specify next point or [Undo]: @4,0
(or @4<0)
Specify next point or [Undo]: @2<90
(or @0,2)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @1<90
(or @0,1)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @-3,0
(or @3<180)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @-1,0 Object to be Drawn
(or @1<180)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @1<-90
(or @0,-1)
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: C
(See Figure 4A.)
Command: L
Specify first point: (end) of P1
Specify next point or [Undo]: @1<180
Specify next point or [Undo]: (end) of P2
Specify next point or [Close/Undo]:
Command: L
Specify first point: (end) of P3
Specify first point: (end) of P4
Specify first point: (end) of P5 Figure Step 4A
Specify first point: (end) of P6
Specify first point:
Command: C
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]: (int) of P7
(Snapping to the intersection of the two construction lines.)
Specify radius of circle or [Diameter] <0.5000>: D
Specify diameter of circle <1.0000>: 1
Command:
(See Figure 4B.)

..continued on page 10-11

Figure Step 4B

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Using Intersection - Object Snap Mode - continued

Step 5 Without entering a command, select the objects shown in Figure Step 5A and
while the objects are selected, pull down the layer list from the toolbar and click the name
Object. Click the graphic window and press Esc to clear the selected objects. Your
drawing should now appear as Figure Step 5B.

Figure Step 5A

Figure Step 5B Step 6 Freeze layer Construction to display the final

object. See Figure Step 6.

Completed
Drawing
Figure Step 6
Step 7 Save and close the drawing.

The Key Principles in Module 10

1. The Polar Coordinate System is used to draw lines using a distance and an angle from a
known coordinate location.
2. When using the polar coordinates, AutoCAD measures angles starting 0 degrees at 3:00 o'clock.
3. When using polar coordinates, positive angles are measured counterclockwise and
negative angles are measured clockwise.

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Lab Exercise 10-1 Time Allowed: 30 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
AutoCAD 2D Lab 10-1 Module Template A Inches N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
Construction Objects Construction 253 N/A N/A
All Objects Object Red N/A N/A
Instructions:
1. Setup the layers using the Layering Scheme shown above.
2. Draw the object shown below using the layering scheme above. In this drawing,
lines are on layer Object and will display red.
3. There are no construction objects.
4. Check your drawing with the key. The key name is the same as the drawing
name shown above. If you have trouble doing this, redo Module 3.
5. If you have any errors, correct your drawing.
6. Turn layer Key off and freeze layer Construction.
7. Save and close the drawing.
Completed
Drawing

POINTS UNITS
A-B 2

B-C 1

C-D 3

D-E 4

E-F 2

F-G 1

G-H 1.5

H-I 1.5

A-J 2

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Construction Hints
Do your best to complete the lab
exercise drawing without using the
following hint(s). If you get stuck
and can't complete it on your own,
use the following hint(s) to help you.

Hint 1

Figure Hint 1

Hint 2 Draw the line from J to I by snapping to the

endpoints as shown in Figure Hint 2.

Answers to problems on page 10-3.

A = 40 °
B = 125 ° Figure Hint 2
C = 150 °
D = 30 °
E = 215 °
F = 35 °
G = 75 °
H = 105 °
J = 135 °
K = 120 °
L = 211 °
M = 324 °

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Lab Exercise 10-2 Time Allowed: 30 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
AutoCAD 2D Lab 10-2 Module Template A3 Millimeters N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
Construction Objects Construction 253 N/A N/A
All Objects Object Red N/A N/A
Instructions:
1. Setup the layers using the Layering Scheme shown above.
2. Draw the object shown below using the layering scheme above. In this
drawing, lines are on layer Object and will display red.
3. There are no construction objects.
4. Check your drawing with the key. The key name is the same as the
drawing name shown above. If you have trouble doing this, redo
Module 3. Completed
5. If you have any errors, correct your drawing. Drawing
6. Turn layer Key off and freeze layer Construction.
7. Save and close the drawing.

POINTS A -B B-C C-D D-E E-F F-G G-H H-I I-J

UNITS 30 45 45 60 60 45 90 120 90

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Construction Hints
Do your best to complete the lab exercise drawing without using the following hint(s). If you get
stuck and can't complete it on your own, use the following hint(s) to help you.

Hint 1

Figure Hint 1

Object A Solution:
1. Find the polar coordinate A TO B: @2<0
2. Calculate the first angle: 180 - 150 = 30 degrees
3. Find the polar coordinate B TO C: @2<30
4. Copy the 30 degree angle to the next corner.
5. Calculate the second angle: 180 - 110 = 70 degrees
6. Add the two angles: 30 + 70 = 100 degrees
7. Find the polar coordinate C TO D: @3<100
9. Calculate angle DD: 180 - 100 = 80 degrees
10. Find angle EE: 100 + 80 = 180 degrees
11. Find the polar coordinate D TO E: @2<180

Object B Solution:
1. Find polar coordinate A TO B @3<0
2. Calculate angle AA: 180 - 135 = 45 degrees
3. Find polar coordinate B TO C @3<45
4. Copy angle AA to the next corner
5. Calculate angle BB 180 - 105 = 75 degrees
6. Find angle CC 45 + 75 = 120 degrees
7. Find polar coordinate C TO D @2<120
8. Copy angle CC to the next corner
9. Calculate angle DD 180 - 120 = 60 degrees
10. Find angle EE 120 + 60 = 180 degrees
11. Find polar coordinate D TO E @3<180

Drawing lines Using Polar Coordinates The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 Module 10

- 2007