On Force and Weight: Balances and Pulleys
Force equals the weight that generates it, shown with balance-and-pulley schemes
A note headed 'On force and weight' argues that force never has weight of its own yet always performs the office of weight, and is always equal to the weight that generates it. The claim is worked out in three schemes of balances hung from pulleys with counterweights, labelled with weight-to-force ratios and the point 'where force acquires weight'. The mounted sheet also bears architectural sketches — including a small domed structure and ground plans — together with red-chalk perspective studies and repeated pen-trials of the word 'Dimmi', none of which are covered by the transcription; further untranscribed drawing and writing are present.
On this page
Force is always equal to the weight that generates it
Leonardo states that force never had weight of its own, even though it always performs the office of weight, and that force is always equal to the weight that generates it. He begins to add a proof before the passage breaks off.
Balance suspended from a pulley
A first scheme shows a balance hung from a pulley, annotated 'first - 1001 1000 weight - 1 force'. The near-equal figures set a large weight against a single unit of force to test the balance of the arrangement.
Balance with pulley and counterweight (8 - 2 - 4 - 4)
A second apparatus combines a balance, a pulley and a counterweight, with the members marked 8 - 2 - 4 - 4. The numbers key the several weights hung on the device.
Where force acquires weight (a b e c d f)
An analogous scheme is lettered a - b - e c d f and carries a starred note 'Where force acquires weight', marking the point in the linkage at which force begins to act as a load.
Untranscribed architectural sketches
Apart from the mechanical schemes, the mounted sheet carries architectural drawing not addressed by the transcription — a small domed structure with ground plans, and red-chalk perspective studies. These are noted here as further untranscribed content on the page.