A weight distributed across wheels, handle and poles
How the same load registers differently at each part of a wheel-and-axle system
The leaves carry large circular diagrams with radial lines, hanging weights and numbered scales, illustrating a mechanics problem in which a single load of 800 (labelled d and o) is felt as 700 at the circumference of wheel s, 100 at the circumference of wheel o, and 25 at the handle g. Leonardo reasons proposition by proposition how the effective weight at the poles s and f grows or lightens with the ratios of the arms (o p, n s, p m, p s) and the pole semidiameters. He concludes that the whole weight o rests on the poles s f and exerts its force along the line s p f. The two figures on f.241v and the lettered figure on f.238r are drawn but their captions carry no transcribed text.
On this page
The load felt at wheel, handle and poles
The load of 800 in d and o weighs 700 at the circumference of wheel s, 100 at the circumference of wheel o, and 25 at the handle g, and at the poles s f it presses more than its true natural weight in proportion as o p enters into s o. Citing his earlier propositions, Leonardo shows how the weight grows heavier at s or m as the arms shorten, and lighter to its mover as s n exceeds the pole's semidiameter.
Wheels, handle and axle with suspended weights
The diagrams show large circles standing for the wheels, threaded on axles with a handle, and small weights hung on cords along the arms, marked with a graduated scale of numbers. These built-up wheel-and-axle figures are the mechanism to which the lettered proposition refers. Their captions on both leaves were not transcribed in the bundle.