Mechanical Science, Balances, and the Centre of Gravity
The nobility of mechanics, a lettered balance a b c, tied rods, and a wheel and cart
The page opens with Leonardo's declaration that instrumental or mechanical science is the most noble and useful of all, since through it every moving animate body performs its actions, its motions springing from the centre of gravity set among unequal weights, muscles, and lever and counter-lever. A balance lettered a b c asks whether unequal arms still settle into equilibrium once weights are hung at their ends. A system of rods tied with cords is lettered at the lower left, and at the right are rapid studies of a wheel, a cart and its parts.
On this page
Mechanical science and the centre of gravity
Leonardo calls instrumental or mechanical science the most noble and, above all others, most useful, because by it every animate body that moves performs its operations. These motions arise from the centre of gravity, placed among parts of unequal weights, with scarcity or abundance of muscles, and lever and counter-lever.
The balance a b c and the seat of equality
The balance a b c has more space from b to a than from b to c. Leonardo reasons that, with weights hung at its ends, it too ought after some swinging to come to rest in the position of equality.
A wheel, a cart and its parts
At the right of the sheet are quick sketches of a wheel, a cart and its component parts. These accompany the mechanical arguments about weight and balance drawn on the same page.