Pile-drivers, pulleys and a drawbridge: studies of weight

A weight far from its support's perpendicular weighs less

Leonardo states that the weight lying farthest from the vertical (perpendicular) of its support presses down least. The red-chalk note governs the balance and lever studies drawn around it.

Pulley and weight on an inclined plane

At the right a pulley carries a weight resting on an inclined plane, one of several hoisting arrangements sketched across the sheet.

Drawbridge scheme (ponte levatoio)

At the centre Leonardo sets down a small scheme of a drawbridge, a bridge counterweighted so that it can be raised.

A better pile-driver with a balancing bar

Beside a pile-driving rig Leonardo writes 'better', explaining that the bar set in balance shows which men are the stronger. The device weighs the effort of the workers as they haul.

Which method drives the pile in more?

Two analogous figures prompt the question of which of these methods drives the pile home more with the pile-driver frame (a castello). Leonardo leaves the comparison open.

Who feels the greater weight? (r o n a)

A further analogous figure, labelled r o n a, carries the question of who feels more weight. It closes the page's series of load comparisons.

Foglio 80 v - H2 32 v A sanguigna sopra disegni precedenti:

A penna. A destra, carrucola con peso su un piano inclinato.

Al centro, schema di:

Attrezzatura per conficcare pali, con:

Due figure analoghe:

Figura analoga, con:

Folio 80v - H2 32v. In red chalk over the previous drawings:

In pen. At the right, a pulley with a weight on an inclined plane.

At the centre, scheme of:

Apparatus for driving piles, with:

Two analogous figures:

Analogous figure, with: