Centre of gravity of a pentagon and of circular segments
Weighing component triangles, and the diameter as the balance-axis of a segment
Folio 215v continues the study of centres of gravity, first for a pentagon built from triangles whose weights stand in double and sesquialteral proportions, so that the whole figure balances at point g. Leonardo then states a general theorem: every circular segment, sided or not, has its centre of gravity on the perpendicular diameter that halves it into two equal shapes and weights. He divides such a segment a b c into four equal triangles and joins their centres to fix the centre of gravity K where the line n r crosses the diameter b d. The facing folio 218r is largely blank, and a lettered semicircular figure sits in the lower margin.
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Centre of gravity of a pentagon by weighing its triangles
The pentagon is split into triangles whose weights are compared: since c d is double a b, the dividing line a d yields two triangles in double proportion suspended along n o at m. Combining these with the third triangle c d e in sesquialteral proportion, the line r m is divided at g, which is proved to be the centre of gravity of the whole pentagon.
The diameter as the balance-axis of a circular segment
For any segment a b c the perpendicular b d dropped on the base is its diameter and contains the centre of gravity, since it halves the figure into equal shapes and weights. Bisecting the arcs b c and b a and joining the points divides the segment into four equal triangles; joining their centres by p o, i q and n r places the centre of gravity K where n r meets b d.
Semicircle construction figure in the lower margin
A semicircular figure with radiating construction lines and letter labels sits at the foot of folio 215v, accompanying the proof that a segment's four equal triangles share a common centre of gravity on the diameter. The block was left without transcribed words in the source.
