Straight Descent versus Winding Descent of Equal Length
How much faster water runs down a straight path than a tortuous one
A red-chalk page setting a straight descent against a tortuous one, its points lettered a and cb. Given that both reach the same endpoint, Leonardo asks how much faster the water will run down one than the other. Two channel diagrams with zigzag chutes are drawn on the sheet, the second left without accompanying text.
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Speed of a straight versus a winding descent
Points a and cb mark a straight descent and a tortuous one. They being of equal endpoint, Leonardo asks how much faster the water will run down the one than the other.
Two channel structures with zigzag chutes
Two trestle-like channel structures are sketched, each fed by a zigzag chute; they set the straight and the winding routes side by side for the comparison of speed.