Event 2: Leonardo Da Vinci + Gravity

Leonardo da Vinci's studies of gravity, weights, and movement were indeed significant in relation to his artistic endeavors. In the online presentation, I learned that Leonardo explored the principles of balance and the distribution of weight. For instance, he examined the pyramidal nature of the power exerted by the arms of a balance (Vesna, 2023). This understanding of the pyramid-shaped force is relevant to the concept of gravity, as it reveals the relationship between weight distribution and equilibrium.

Vesna, Leonardo Da Vinci + Art Online Presentation

From the presentation, I also learned that Leonardo also recognized three centers of gravity: geometric, natural, and accidental. These centers of gravity play a crucial role in determining the stability and balance of objects (Ouellette, 2023). By considering these centers, Leonardo was able to depict figures and objects in his artwork with a sense of realism and naturalistic equilibrium.

Leonardo Da Vinci's Understanding of Gravity was Centuries Ahead of His Time

The biggest take away for me was how ahead of his time Da Vinci was in his experiments and discovery of gravity. His use of proportional and geometric diagrams laid the foundation for future analyses. One notable experiment described in his papers involves a water pitcher moving along a straight path parallel to the ground while pouring out either water or a granular material, likely sand (Perkins, 2023). Leonardo recognized that the falling material would not descend at a constant velocity but rather accelerate due to the influence of gravity. He also noted that once the material separated from the pitcher, it would no longer be influenced horizontally and would experience purely downward acceleration. His observations and approximations of the forces of nature in his artwork provided a framework for later generations of physicists to build upon and refine (Liberatore, 2023).

Leonardo da Vinci's Forgotten Experiments Explored Gravity as a Form of Acceleration

Leonardo da Vinci's exploration of balance, centers of gravity, and geometrical diagrams in his artwork contributed to a deeper understanding of the physical world and influenced later developments in physics, even if he did not have access to the experimental and mathematical tools to fully explain gravity.

Works Cited

Liberatore, Stacy. “Leonardo Da Vinci ‘discovered’ Gravity before Isaac Newton, Study Reveals.” Daily Mail Online, 15 Feb. 2023, www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11750827/Leonard-da-Vinci-discovered-gravity-Isaac-Newton-study-reveals.html. 

Ouellette, Jennifer. “Leonardo Noted Link between Gravity and Acceleration before Newton.” Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2023, arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/leonardo-noted-link-between-gravity-and-acceleration-centuries-before-einstein/. 

Perkins, Robert. “Leonardo Da Vinci’s Forgotten Experiments Explored Gravity as a Form of Acceleration.” California Institute of Technology, 2032, www.caltech.edu/about/news/leonardo-da-vincis-forgotten-experiments-explored-gravity-as-a-form-of-acceleration. 

Vesna, Victoria. Leonardo Da Vinci + Gravity Online Zoom Presentation. 19 May. 2023.

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