Center of Gravity of a Rod with Two End-Weights
Dividing a beam into parts equal to the total pounds hung at its ends
Leonardo poses the problem of finding the center of gravity of a rod loaded with two unequal weights at its ends. His rule: divide the length of the rod into as many parts as the total number of pounds of the two weights, here 8 (namely 5 and 3), to locate the balance point a. Two diagrams show a pair of connected rods and a horizontal beam with two boxed weights, 5 and 3, hanging from its ends about the center a.
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Locating the center of gravity of a loaded rod
Two different weights are fixed to the two ends of a rod, and Leonardo undertakes to give the center of its gravity. The point a marks that center on the drawn horizontal beam.
Divide the rod into parts equal to the total pounds (5 + 3 = 8)
The length of the rod is divided into as many parts as the number of pounds of the two attached weights, which here total 8, namely 5 and 3. The whole rod is thus made into 8 parts, and the construction is said to be completed on the reverse of the leaf.