348 THEOUV OF ARCIIITKCTUKK. Book II.

OS
of
the inclined plane to its base OIL In the lirst case the iJi-<"iire of the solid o'.i the
plane is expressed by OH, and in the second by 8H : hence we ht.vc

P : N : F::OS : SH : OH,
and P : N : F::OS : SH : oh.
In the first case it must be observed, that the effect of the force being parallel to the in-
clined plane, it neither increases nor diminishes the pressure upon that plane; and this is
the most favourable case for keeping a body in equilibrio on an ini;lined plane. In the
second case, the direction forming an acute angle with the plane uselessly augments the
load or weight. Whilst the direction of the force forms an obtuse angle with the in-
clination of the plane, by sustaining a portion of the weight, it diminishes the load on the
plane, but requires a greater force.
1302. The force necessary to sustain upon an inclined plane a body whose base is
formed by a plane surface depends, as we have already observed, on the rougb.ness of the
surfaces, as well of the inclined plane as of the base of the body ; and it is only to be dis-
covered by experiment.
1303. Of all the means that have been employed to estimate the value of the resistance,
known under the name of friction, the simplest, and that which seems to give the truest
results, is to consider the inclination of the plane upon which a body, the direction of whose
centre of gravity does not fall out of the base, remains in equilibrio, as a horizontal plane
;
after which the degrees of inclination may begin to be reckoned, by which we find that a
body which does not begin to slide till the plane's inclination exceeds 30 degrees, being
placed on an inclined plane of 45,
will not retjuire a greater force to sustain it than a
convex body of the same weight on an inclined plane of 15 degrees.
1 304. All that has been said on the force neces.sary to retain a body upon an inclined plane,
is applicable to solids supported by two planes, considering that the second acts as a force
to counterpoise the first, in a direction perpendicular to the second plane.
1305. When the directions of three forces, PG, Q.G, Gil, meet in the same point G
(^fig.
551.), it follows, from the preceding observations on the parallelogram of forces, that
to be in equilibrium their proportion will be ex-
pressed by the three sides of a triangle formed by
perpendiculars to their directions ; whence it follows,
that if tlirongh the centre of gravity G of a solid,
supported by two planes or by some other point of
its vertical directioii, lines be drawn perpendicular to
the directions of the forces, if equilibrium exist, so will
the following proportion, viz. P : Q, : R::BA : BC
: AC.
l.'JOS. Lastly, considering that in all sorts of tri-
angles the sides will between each other be as the sines
of their opposite angles, we shall have P
; Q,
: II
;
; sin.
BCA : sin. BAG : sin. ABC; and as the angle BCA is
"
''^'
equal to the angle CAD, and CBA to BAE, we shall have P : Q : R:: sin. CAD
:
sin. BAC : sin. BAE
;
that is, that the weight is represented by the sine of the angle formed
by the two inclined planes, and that the pressures upon each of these planes are reci-
procally proportional to the sines of the angles which they form with the horizon.
THE WHEEL AND AXLE.
1307. The wheel and axle, sometimes called the axis in peritrochio, is a ma-
chine consisting of a cylinder C and a wheel B
{Jig. 552.) having the same axis, at
the two extremities of which are pivots on which the wheel
turns. The power is applied at the circumference of the
wheel, generally in the direction of a tangent by means of
a cord wrapped about the cylinder in order to overcome the
resistance or elevate the weight. Here the cord by which the
power P acts is applied at the circumference of the wheel, while
that of the weight W is applied round the axle or another
small wheel attached to the larger, and having the same axis or
centre C. Thus BA is a lever moveable about the point C,
the power P always acting at the distance BC, and the weight
W at the distance CA. Therefore P : W::CA
:
CB. That
is, the weight and power will be in equilibrio when the power
P is to the weight W reciprocally as the radii of the circles
where they act, or as the radius of the axle CA, where the
weight hangs, to the radius of the wheel CB, where the power
acts; or, as before, P ;
W::CA ; CB.
1308. If the wheel be put in motion, the sjiaces moved through being as the circum