Regular Counterweights Compared to Water
A classification of counterweights and of straight rods, with balance beams in red chalk
The pen text sets out 'regular counterweights, comparing their gravity to that of water,' then tabulates nine cases pairing width (wider, narrower, or equal) with weight of material (heavier, lighter, or equal). A second note classifies straight rods (canne) into five sorts by how they taper: narrow below and wide above, the reverse, wholly uniform, thin at the ends and wide in the middle, or wide at the ends and thin in the middle. Beneath the writing, faint red-chalk lines sketch balance beams.
On this page
Counterweights weighed against water
The text proposes to judge 'regular counterweights' by comparing their gravity to that of water. It then runs through nine combinations that cross the counterweight's width (wider, narrower, equal) with the heaviness of its material (heavier, lighter, equal).
Five sorts of straight rods
A further note states that straight rods can be of five sorts. They are described by their taper: narrow at the bottom and wide at the top, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, wholly uniform, thin at the ends and wide in the middle, or wide at the ends and thin in the middle.
Balance beams in red chalk
The catalogue note records that, in red chalk beneath the pen writing, there are balance beams. Faint ruled red-chalk lines survive under the script, sketching the arms of such balances.