Notebook on Mechanics and Natural Philosophy

...of the weight which, being upon an oblique motion oblique motion original: "moto obbliquo"; this refers to movement along an inclined path or at an angle, rather than a straight vertical fall., shall be equal to the weight that hangs perpendicularly between the powers of the motion.

If the power power original: "potentia"; the force or effort applied to a machine to achieve balance or movement. m hangs perpendicularly and the other is upon the oblique motion m-n, it will be of equal heaviness with weight m if it is equal to such an oblique m-n. The other power that hangs perpendicularly—if it be p-m—will be equal to the weight m.

A mechanical diagram illustrating a pulley system. A horizontal line represents a beam or support with two circular pulleys at either end. A rope is threaded over these pulleys, with weights hanging vertically at the ends (marked with '+' symbols). In the center of the rope, a weight is suspended, pulling the rope down into a shallow, symmetrical V-shape. Various points on the diagram are labeled with letters: 'a', 'b', 'm', 'n', 'p', and 's'.

...hangs perpendicularly between the powers of the motion ①. If the length of the motion m-n is of equal heaviness with the weight m, and if it be equal to such an oblique m-n, the other power that hangs perpendicularly—if it be p-m—will be equal to the weight m.

A second mechanical diagram showing a similar pulley configuration to the first. A rope passes over two pulleys, but here the central weight—labeled with a '1' inside a circle—hangs much lower, creating a more acute V-angle in the rope. Weights are shown hanging from the outer ends of the rope. Points are labeled 's', 'm', 'n', and 'p'.

If the power be one pound original: "libbra"; a contemporary unit of weight. and the weight be 4 pounds ②, this will be equal to such a weight at the position m-p-n, if the length of the motion m-n is 4 times as much as the depth depth original: "bassezza"; literally the 'lowness' or the vertical distance the weight hangs below the horizontal line of the pulleys. of the weight m below the cord s-p-n. And m would be of one pound, like the power p and n, which would be of another pound. And if you take away one pound of heaviness from m, 3 pounds will remain, and the weight will rise until m-n is 3 times the depth of the weight s-m-n below the poles poles original: "poli"; referring here to the pivot points or the pulleys themselves. of the cord. And if you take away another pound, it will rise so much that it will be 2 times the depth of the weight s-m-n. And if you take away another pound, it will be equal to the depth of its weight. And if you take away the final pound, the weight will be equal to the cord s-p-n.