Course of mechanical, magnetical, optical, hydrostatical, and pneumatical experiments from 18th-century
MECHANICKS. An Explication of the First Plate . F igure . 1. This belongs to Galilæo's famous Demonstration of the Velocities and Times of Bodies descending by an uniform Force, such is that of Gravity here below: And shews that they will ever fall in equal Times, 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. according to the odd Numbers, 1, 3, 5, 7, &c. or the Trapezia B C D E, D E F G, F G H I, &c. and by consequence, that their Velocity will increase uniformly in Proportion to the Lines B C, D E, F G, H I, &c. or to the Times of Descent. And that the entire Lines of their Descent will be as the Triangles A B C, A D E, A F G, A H I, &c. or as the Squares of those Times, 1, 4, 9, 16, &c. Fig. 2. This is a strong Balance for an Experiment to prove the former Proposition, by shewing that any Bullet or Ball, when it falls from four Times the Height, ...