Argument Against the 'Wheel of Augmentation'
A proof that a power-boosting wheel adds load rather than easing motion
In the inverted note at the top of the sheet Leonardo asks whether a 'wheel of augmentation' actually helps a moving body, and answers no. He reasons that if a load needs 100 degrees of power to move and the augmenting wheel itself consumes 10 degrees to keep going, then instead of reducing the first 100 degrees to 90 you end up needing 110. The rest of the page is filled by a large decorative spiral or volute, which the e-Leo caption labels a decorative figure.
On this page
Why an augmenting wheel does not aid motion
Leonardo poses whether the 'wheel of augmentation' helps motion and declares it does not. Supposing a body requires 100 degrees of power to move and the wheel needs 10 degrees to sustain itself, the 100 you hoped to lower to 90 instead rises to 110. It is a compact argument against a friction-defying, power-multiplying device.
Large decorative spiral figure
Below the writing a broad scroll or volute is drawn with a doubled, ribbon-like outline that curls into two small inner spirals at its base. The e-Leo caption calls it a decorative figure. It occupies most of the lower page and is unrelated to the mechanical note above.