Statics of supports and cords, with a pulley system
How a perpendicular support and a hanging cord bear weight; a weighted pulley diagram and further notes
The transcribed notes state a group of statics propositions on how a perpendicular or oblique support carries weight: it is loaded equally at both ends and, along its whole length, is contested equally by the opposed powers of the weight and its resistance. A further note (written with the sheet turned) concerns a uniform cord that breaks at its junction with the support when overloaded, and the instantaneous transmission of a suspended body's gravity. Small pulley-and-weight diagrams in the corners carry the numbers 2, 10, 8 and 8, 9, 9. The sheet also bears further text not transcribed here, which the Codex Atlanticus catalogue associates with Leonardo's inheritance dispute with his brothers and with aerial perspective (distance, size and colour).
On this page
A perpendicular support is loaded equally at both ends
Every perpendicular support is equally burdened at its ends by the whole power of the weight it sustains. As far as the support resists the weight placed at one end, so far is it assailed by a double power, and at every point of its length it is contested oppositely with equal force by the powers of weight and resistance.
Opposed powers of weight and resistance along the length
As much as the perpendicular support resists the weight it sustains, so much is it assailed equally and oppositely, in every part of its length, by the equal and opposed powers of the weight and of the resistance. Leonardo reworks the proposition several times, ending that it is contested 'with equal struggle'.
A uniform cord breaks at its point of support
A cord of uniform strength, suspended by one of its ends and overcome by excessive weight, will break at the junction with its support. A companion note adds that the gravity of suspended bodies is infused instantaneously throughout the whole length of the cord.
Pulley-and-weight diagrams with numbers
In the upper right a small system of pulleys and weights is annotated 2, 10, 8, and in the lower right corner the numbers 8, 9, 9. These figures illustrate the distribution of load treated in the surrounding statics notes.
Untranscribed memoranda (inheritance dispute)
Beyond the mechanical notes, the sheet carries additional text in Leonardo's hand not included in this transcription. The Codex Atlanticus catalogue associates part of it with his dispute with his brothers over the inheritance and a plan to record the cases and leave a copy in Florence. The exact wording is not reproduced here.
Untranscribed notes on aerial perspective (distance, size, colour)
Further untranscribed text on the sheet is catalogued under distance, size and colour and 'the right distance', matters of aerial perspective. It is noted here only as present; the wording is not transcribed.