The common centre of gravity, and a press for terracotta 'pastelli'
Three principles of the shared centre of heavy bodies, with a counterweight press for shaping and drying clay forms.
The upper text sets out three principles: every heavy body seeks a common centre and moves or thrusts toward it, greater weight descends proportionally faster, and every weight desires that its centre become the centre shared by all the elements. Below, a diagram lettered f, a, e, b, c, d shows a device for making 'pastelli': a terracotta bed (a b c) used for making jugs, a paste form (e), a wooden piece (d), and a counterweight (f) that presses down. A second smaller diagram at the lower right repeats the same lettering (b, e, c, d) as a detail of the press.
On this page
Every heavy body seeks the common centre
Every heavy body desires that its centre be shared, and so always moves or thrusts toward the common centre. Where the weight is greater, the descent is proportionally faster. Every weight desires that its centre become the centre common to all the elements, and so always runs or thrusts toward that place.
Counterweight press for making 'pastelli'
The bed a b c is terracotta of the kind used for making jugs; e is the paste form (pastello); d is wood; and f is the counterweight that presses down. The work is left to stand until it is dry and well compacted, with paper placed between the pastello and the terracotta so that the two do not stick together.