Force, weight, motion, time; water jets from tubes
A table trading the four mechanical quantities, with experiments on water spouting from vessels
The sheet opens with Leonardo declaring that he works with four degrees each of force, weight, motion and time, adding or removing them by imagination to find what nature's law requires. A long table below tabulates how these four quantities trade off against one another. Two lower diagrams pose hydraulic problems: which of two tubes of equal length and bore throws its water farther, and which of several holes empties its vessel fastest.
On this page
The four degrees of force, weight, motion and time
Leonardo states that he finds in himself four degrees of force and four of weight, and likewise four of motion and four of time. He proposes to work with these degrees, adding or removing them as need requires by the imagination, so as to find what nature in her law desires.
Table trading weight, force, motion and time
A tabulated list sets combinations of the four quantities against one another, giving the resulting value of the fourth. For example, 2 of weight with 4 of force and 4 of motion is worth 2 of time, and 1 of force with 4 of weight and 4 of motion needs 16 of time.
Which tube throws its water farther, a or b
Beside a figure of two vessels feeding tubes a and b, Leonardo asks which of the two tubes, being of equal thickness and length, will cast its water farthest from itself.
Timing how each vessel empties through its hole
At the lower jet-vessels he asks which water issues with greater force, from tube a, b or c. He directs that each of these holes be left open by itself alone, to see in how many units of time its vessel empties.