Water in Waves: Rising, Falling, and Slowing
Eddies, upwellings and boilings; a river cross-section; names jotted in red chalk
The page opens with a topic list of water phenomena — waves, eddies, upwellings, boilings — then poses a question and analysis of how water within a wave moves faster in falling than in rising, and where it slows. Leonardo argues that if the wave were of equal motion its depth and width would be equal, and that unequal motion would heap up great height wherever the water most delays. A wavy pen line at the foot of the sheet is labelled as a cross-section of a river, marked surface and bottom. In red chalk beneath the writing, the words 'monache' and the name 'Iacometto' are jotted beside a faint drawing.
On this page
Velocity of water in the forming of a wave
Leonardo asks whether water moves faster as the wave falls than as it rises, and in what place it slows. He reasons that the velocity at the wave's rise equals that of its decline, and that at the middle of its lowest trough it equals that of its highest crest; unequal motion at equal width and depth would build up great height where the water most delays.
Cross-section of a river
A wavy pen line drawn at the foot of the sheet is identified as a section through a river, its two marked levels being the surface and the bottom.
Names jotted in red chalk
Beneath the pen writing, in red chalk, are a faint sketch and two jottings: 'monache' (nuns) and the name Iacometto. They are unrelated memoranda rather than part of the water study.