Two carts pulled in different ways
Comparing the traction of cart a and cart b
Two four-wheeled carts are drawn one above the other, lettered a and b, each hitched and hauled in a different manner. Leonardo asks what difference there is between pulling the one and pulling the other. In the sketches the upper cart is drawn by a cord rising to the top of a tall post while the lower is pulled by a cord near the wagon bed. The sheet poses the traction question without resolving it.
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Comparing the traction of two carts
Two carts, lettered a and b, are pulled in contrasting ways. Leonardo asks what difference there would be between hauling one and hauling the other. The point of attachment of the traction cord differs between the two vehicles.
High versus low point of hitching
The upper cart's cord rises to the top of a tall vertical post before running forward, whereas the lower cart is pulled by a cord at bed level. The difference in where the pull is applied is the crux of the comparison.