The New Thoughts of Galileo

ARTICLE II.

A vertical rectangular column diagram is depicted, shaded with a dark textured pattern. The letter 'A' is placed at the top left of the column, and the letter 'B' is placed at the bottom left.

TO understand this difficulty well, one must imagine that the line AB is a column attached at the top to a floor, or to a vault, at point A, and that it is pulled perpendicularly from top to bottom by a weight attached to point B. Now, it is certain that the strength of a column of wood or marble, or of any other material one might choose, is not infinite, and consequently, one can increase the weight or force B to such an extent that the column AB will break, just as a rope of hemp or copper would do: for cylinders, or other pieces of wood, derive their strength from the filaments and fibers from which they are woven, just as