Motion: how a mover's speed governs the spacing of moved weights
Beam diagrams of hung weights, with four propositions on impetus, velocity and proportional motion
Folio 188r carries diagrams of weights suspended from horizontal beams, labelled with number-sequences such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 2, 2, 2 that mark their proportional spacing, together with four short paragraphs each headed 'Moto' (Motion). Leonardo argues that the more swiftly a mover thrusts a body, the farther and faster it departs, and that doubling the mover's speed or its travel does not double the distance between equal moved weights. A side note observes that here the centre of the weight lies below the centre of its support. All movement, he concludes, is vain unless the weight is proportional to the moving force.
On this page
Centre of the weight below its support
A marginal note states that here the centre of the weight is below the centre of its support. This is the stable case, in which a hung load rests directly beneath its point of suspension.
The mover's speed and the flight of moved weights
The more swiftly and forcefully a body is thrust with impetus, the greater the distance and speed with which it leaves its mover. Yet doubling the mover's velocity over similar bodies does not make the weights separate by a doubled distance from one another.
Weights spaced by number-sequences on the beams
The upper diagrams hang weights from beams and label their positions with running numbers such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 2, 2, 2. These set out the proportional intervals at which the moved bodies come to rest.