The nature of weights: simple rods and beams

Beginning of the nature of weights

The treatise opens with "the beginning of the nature of weights, and first of simple bodies and simple ways of weighing." Its rule proceeds in order: first the simple rod, then rods supported from below, then partly suspended, then wholly, and finally rods that support other weights.

Raising a beam's head to find the whole weight

Raise the head of a beam so that it falls plumb over the middle of the place where it lay, then weigh that head, and the whole beam's weight is found: it will be four times as much.

Numbered figures of leaning and horizontal rods

The two columns carry rods numbered from 10 to 16 shown at increasing inclinations against vertical posts, ending in a fan of rods spread from a single foot. Each figure is tagged with numeric weight values such as 10, 1 1/2, 2 1/2 and 12, 1/2, 3 1/2, relating the beam's angle to the loads at its ends.

In alto, a destra.

A sinistra.

Colonna destra. Figura:

Figura:

Figura:

Figura:

Figura:

Colonna sinistra. Figura di trave orizzontale. Figura:

Figura:

Figura:

Figura:

Top right.

On the left.

Right column. Figure:

Figure:

Figure:

Figure:

Figure:

Left column. Figure of a horizontal beam. Figure:

Figure:

Figure:

Figure:

The nature of weights: simple rods and beams

On this page

Beginning of the nature of weights

Raising a beam's head to find the whole weight

Numbered figures of leaning and horizontal rods