Branching of the Cherry Tree; Falling Weights in Air and Water
Trees that branch in tiers, drawn in red chalk, and how a heavier end leads a moving body
In red chalk Leonardo studies the branching of the cherry tree, sketched at the right, noting that it grows in tiers around its trunk like the fir, with branches born four, five or six opposite one another. He observes that the tips form an equilateral pyramid from the middle upward, while the walnut and oak form a half sphere. A separate note in pen turns to mechanics, stating that in a body of uniform material but non-uniform weight the heavier part becomes the guide, so a pyramidal weight shot point-first will turn its base toward the direction of travel.
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The cherry branches in tiers like the fir
The cherry is of the nature of the fir in its branching, made in tiers around its trunk, with branches born four or five or six opposite one another. The sum of its outermost twigs composes an equilateral pyramid from the middle upward, whereas the walnut and oak from the middle upward compose a half sphere.
The heavier end guides a body through air or water
In a body of uniform material but non-uniform weight moving through air or water, the heavier part always becomes the guide. A pyramidal weight of uniformly disproportionate thickness, shot point-first by the bow, immediately turns its base toward the place its whole is moving to.