Where to Look From - Perspective Views of Objects

Perspective Views: Objects look different depending on the direction from which you look at them. The three primary directions are from the top, from the front, and from the side. For example, a shoe looks like a long shape from the side, but from the top, you only see the opening for the foot and the laces.

The Top View: This is what you see when looking down at an object from above. A pressure cooker from the top looks like a simple circle with a handle sticking out. A table from the top looks like a plain rectangle with no legs visible.

The Front View: This is the view from the front of an object. For a car, the front view shows the headlights and the windshield. A house from the front view usually looks like a large square with a door, topped by a triangle representing the roof.

The Side View: This is the view from the side. For a staircase, the side view is very distinct, appearing as a 'zig-zag' line or a series of steps. However, from the front, a staircase might just look like a flat rectangle with horizontal lines.

Mirror Halves and Symmetry: An object has mirror halves if it can be divided into two identical parts by a dotted line. If you place a mirror on the line, the reflection completes the whole picture. For example, the letter $H$ has a vertical line of symmetry, whereas the letter $F$ does not.

Dot Grid Patterns: A grid of dots can be used to create shapes and patterns (Rangoli). To draw a square on a dot grid, you connect an equal number of dots horizontally and vertically, such as $4$ dots across and $4$ dots down, forming a closed shape.

Visual Transformations: Moving your position changes the perceived shape. A pencil looks like a small circle $O$ when viewed from the top (the eraser end) but looks like a long, thin rectangle from the side view.