Final answer:
Orthographic drawings require multiple views to fully represent the 3D geometry of an object on a 2D surface, as each view reveals different aspects not visible from the other perspectives. These views include top, front, and side projections that collectively provide precise information about the shape and dimensions of the object.
Step-by-step explanation:
Multiple views are needed when orthographic drawings are used to provide a 3D representation of the object. Orthographic drawings offer different perspectives such as top, front, and side views which are necessary to accurately convey the shape and dimensions of a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface. These multiple views are essential because each provides unique and critical information regarding the geometry of the object that cannot be understood from a single perspective.
Perspectives like linear and atmospheric are techniques that exploit depth cues to convey three dimensions on flat surfaces, as seen in both art and in technologies such as 3-D movies. Linear perspective uses orthogonals that converge at vanishing points, while atmospheric perspective relies on the visual effect of haze, where objects appear smaller, grayer, and less distinct as they recede into the distance. However, orthographic projection is precise and lacks the foreshortening seen in linear perspective, instead providing an undistorted representation of the object's details.