The centre of weight of a composite rod
Two branching composite-rod diagrams naming the centre of equality
Two diagrams of branching composite rods, drawn as beams meeting at a fork, continue Leonardo's study of where a compound body balances. A short note beside the upper figure identifies the point a as the centre of equality, also called the centre of weight. A second composite rod below is lettered a, b for a further case of the same problem.
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Point a is the centre of equality
Beside the upper branching rod Leonardo marks the point a and names it the centre of equality, which he says is also called the centre of weight. This is the point about which the composite body hangs in balance.
Second composite rod (a, b)
A lower diagram shows another composite rod of forked arms lettered a and b. It repeats the arrangement to test the location of the centre of weight in a differently proportioned body.