circuits

[peter-reebok]

I might be really dumb here, so will risk my pride to ask a question.

Circuits.
I assumed (dangerous I know) that a circuit was a rectangular track, usually in a left hand formation, that was performed at about 1000 ft, to ingrain the practice of turns, maintaining altitude, and lining up with markers so as to align with a runway in one leg.
I am now thinking that a circuit starts at the departure runway, and finishes with a landing on the same runway, after proscribing the aformentioned rectangular circuit of the airfield.
anyone care to enlighten this noob?
Again, apologise for the dumb question that it seems everyone else will know the answe tor, but I cant seem to find a reference to which (if either) theory is correct.

If I am gunna be practising something, would prefer to do it correctly, rather than just proceed aimlessly.

[SeanTK]

This is a typical circuit. Touch & goes are usually accomplished over the runway portion, although you can also do a full stop landing and taxi back to the end to depart and go around again. They are usually flown around 1000 feet AGL, although some airports may have specialized policies. Circuits can either be left turns (like this one), or right turns, depending on the specific airport's regulations and/or ATC desires.
A circuit doesn't form a rectangle around the field, rather one edge of the rectangle is the runway. It indeed can be used to practice turns and maintaining altitude, with the main focus being on demonstrating reciprocal headings, situational awareness, and general thinking ahead of the aircraft, along with landing practice.

[peter-reebok]

exactly the answer I needed - not war and peace - but enough meat to answer what I asked.

Thankyou.

[beaky]

Another pointer: generally speaking, with light aircraft in particular, this pattern should be flown so that on the downwind leg, you are about 1/2 mile from the runway horizontally, and your base leg should be about a mile from the end of the runway (or whatever your desired touchdown point is). It's not a rule really, more just a good formula for most smaller, slower airplanes.
The idea is that once you are that low (pattern altitude), you want to be able to

[C]

With faster and larger ships, flying a higher 1500-ft. AGL pattern, the distances are usually doubled, for the same reason.

And the big stuff, 2 to 3 miles or more!

[olderndirt]

This is a typical circuit. Touch & goes are usually accomplished over the runway portion

Maybe it's just me but I sense a little 'tongue in cheek' here.

[Sir Puma]

This is a typical circuit. Touch & goes are usually accomplished over the runway portion

Maybe it's just me but I sense a little 'tongue in cheek' here.

[olderndirt]

This is a typical circuit. Touch & goes are usually accomplished over the runway portion

Maybe it's just me but I sense a little 'tongue in cheek' here.

[SeanTK]

It was a little tongue in cheek, but I also gathered from the original post that the author may have thought that a pattern is a rectangle around the runway, and that the runway is not incorporated into one of the legs of the rectangle. It also seemed as if the author was unsure if touch/go's were a part of a circuit, or if it all was just pattern altitude maneuver practice. 

[olderndirt]

[quote]it all was just pattern altitude maneuver practice.

[peter-reebok]

[quote]It was a little tongue in cheek, but I also gathered from the original post that the author may have thought that a pattern is a rectangle around the runway, and that the runway is not incorporated into one of the legs of the rectangle. It also seemed as if the author was unsure if touch/go's were a part of a circuit, or if it all was just pattern altitude maneuver practice.