On motion: which weight propels a lead ball farthest
Lead versus wood, equal motors, and the air's resistance to small bodies
Under the heading 'On motion', Leonardo poses two questions about projecting a one-pound lead ball with a constant motor. He asks what weight of lead will throw the ball farthest, and how far an equal weight of wood would throw it in the same motion and time. He adds that any objection drawn from the air's resistance is weakened by the fact that the smaller a body is than an ounce, the less air opposes its course.
On this page
Which weight of lead throws a one-pound lead ball farthest
Leonardo wants to know what weight of lead will propel a one-pound ball of lead farther from itself than any other weight, the motors always keeping the same motion. He then asks how far a wooden weight equal to the leaden one would propel the same ball in the same motion and time.
The air's resistance to bodies smaller than an ounce
To the objection that the air would resist the moving body, Leonardo replies that the smaller the body is than the weight of an ounce, the smaller the quantity of air that would oppose its course. Resistance is thus tied to the size of the projectile.