Weights on cords and the collision of thrown balls
Perpendicular action, pyramid-base proportion of loads, and deflection after impact
The page repeats that every suspended weight acts under its perpendicular and derives the loads on the cords a c from the proportion between the bases a b and b c of two opposed pyramids. A separate note treats two balls of unequal weight thrown from the same line that meet at an acute angle, concluding that the lighter one deviates further from the central line after the impact. Beam-and-cord diagrams hung with weights and a V of lines about a 'central line' accompany the text.
On this page
Suspended weight acts under its perpendicular
Every weight suspended by any line whatever acts under its perpendicular. The inclination of the supporting cord does not change the direction in which the load presses down.
Loads from the proportion of two pyramid bases
The proportion which the base a b of the inverted pyramid a b n has to the base b c of the pyramid b n c fixes the loads that the weight 8 delivers to the attachment of the cords a c. The distribution of force is read off geometrically from the two triangular bases.
Deflection of two colliding balls
If two balls of different weight are thrown from one and the same line and meet at an acute angle somewhere along their course, the lighter one deviates further from the central line after the impact. The extra deviation matches by how much the lightness of one exceeds that of the other.