Weights hung along an inclined and a horizontal beam
How the position of loads along a beam changes the force at its ends — 'yet make trial of it'
The right-hand diagram shows an inclined beam and, below it, a horizontal beam, each hung at several points with small weighted boxes labelled a, b, c above and d, e, f below. In the text block Leonardo poses the problem of how varying both the positions and the sizes of the hanging weights alters the 100 pounds delivered as the load is moved along the beam, and what change occurs at the beam's extremities. He judges the inclined case behaves like the horizontal beam below, but closes by insisting the result be tested.
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The load at a beam's ends varies with weight position
a b c are weights attached to the beam at different places; the question is how the variety of positions and of weights alters the 100 pounds moved along the beam, and what change occurs at its ends. It is judged to behave like the beam below — 'yet make trial of it.'