Suspended Rods: Locating the Center of Gravity of Weights
Three experimental diagrams showing that varied proportions yield one center of gravity
Three diagrams of a horizontal rod hung by cords, each carrying square weights marked with numbers, occupy the top of the sheet. The accompanying note, headed 'Tested by experiment', states that the exercise serves only to locate the center of gravity of the suspended weights. Leonardo observes that in the first figure the center of gravity along the line m n falls at p, and that working through all three arrangements shows the various proportions coming out to one and the same result.
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Finding the center of gravity of weights hung from a rod
The note declares the demonstration proven by experiment and made solely to find the centers of the weights. In the first figure the center of gravity along line m n is located at p, where the rod would balance on its supporting cords.
Different proportions, one and the same result
Leonardo invites the reader to run through all three figures, arranged with different numerical proportions of the weights (6 - 3 3, 6 - 3 2 1, 6 - 3 1 - 3 2 - 3 2 1). Whatever proportion is chosen, they all reduce to a single outcome for the balance point.