Passavolante and pincers: two problems of force
How the force of a light cannon varies along its length, and which tongs grip harder
Two drawings occupy this page. The upper one shows a passavolante, a long light cannon keyed n a - b c d e, with a question about how its force varies along its length; the lower shows a pair of pincers marked n and m, asking which grips harder when the counter-lever is of equal length. Both are problems about force and leverage.
On this page
Force of the passavolante along its length
The upper diagram shows a passavolante, a long light cannon, keyed n a - b c d e. Leonardo asks: if the passavolante n a exerts a given force at b over 100 braccia, what force will it exert at c d e? It is a question about how the force varies along the piece.
Which pair of pincers grips harder
The lower sketch shows a pair of pincers or tongs, marked n and m. Leonardo asks which grips more tightly when the counter-lever is of equal length, n or m. It is a comparison of leverage in the two tools.