Weight of a Rod's End Raised to Various Heights
How a lying rod's lifted end changes weight at every point of its turning
This closely written note develops a principle of statics: a rod (aste) lying with one end on the ground and the other lifted to various heights changes its effective weight at every point through which it moves. Leonardo restates the rule in many phrasings, insisting that the fixed foot acts as the centre of the rod's circular movement and that each successive position yields a different weight according to the lines of the sustaining force. The sheet is crowded with small diagrams of rods, levers, weights, wheels and pulleys illustrating the idea, and its edges are torn.
On this page
A raised rod-end changes weight at every position
A rod set with one end on the ground and the other lifted through various heights transmutes its moved end into as many different weights as there are points through which it passes. At every degree of motion the lying rod makes a variety of weight.
The immobile foot as centre of the turning
Leonardo insists that the immobile foot resting on the ground is the centre of the rod's circular movement. Each position shows as many various weights as there are various lines of the force that sustains it.
Sketches of levers, wheels and pulleys
The sheet is filled with small mechanical sketches of rods, levers, weights, toothed wheels and pulleys that accompany the statics argument. A pair of wheels and bracketed devices appear at the right and lower parts of the leaf.