In mechanical drafting, which section type allows a non-straight cutting plane so the cutting-plane line can jog to pass through several features? Identify the section view that uses a stepped or “offset” cutting plane across the part.

Introduction / Context:
Section views expose interior features that are difficult to understand from exterior views alone. Sometimes multiple non-collinear features must be shown in one view. Drafting practice permits bending or offsetting the cutting plane to include those features clearly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The cutting-plane line is not straight; it jogs to pass through several important features.
• The intention is to show those features as if they lie in a single plane.
• We compare section types: full, half, broken-out, and offset.

Concept / Approach:

An offset section uses a stepped/jogged cutting plane that changes direction to intersect key internal details. The resulting section view is drawn as if unfolded into one plane, so all selected features appear in the same section view, improving clarity without creating multiple separate sections.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Standards and textbooks depict offset sections with right-angle jogs in the cutting-plane line, labeled arrows, and the resulting single consolidated section view.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Half: exposes half of a symmetric object; cutting plane is straight and passes through the axis.

Whole (full): a straight cutting plane through the entire object.

Broken-out: uses an irregular break line to expose a localized interior area, not a jogged cutting plane through multiple features.

Common Pitfalls:

Misinterpreting offset sections as multiple separate sections. They are combined into one view for clarity.

Final Answer:

Offset