454: THE CENTURY, 



described,] is nothing less than a perpetual motion. 7 

 Of course he does not admit even the possibility of such 

 an arrangements of parts, he only allows that if that 

 could be executed, the other would follow. But Desa- 

 guliers admitted too much, for it may easily be demon 

 strated that the conditions stated may be mechanically 

 produced, without any resulting motion. Let the an 

 nexed diagram represent a wheel of 14 feet in diameter, 



having 40 spokes, seven feet each, and with an inner 

 rim coinciding with the periphery, at one foot distance, 

 all round. Next provide 40 balls or weights, hanging 

 in the centre of cords or chains two feet long. Now 

 fasten one end of this cord at the top of the centre spoke 

 C, and the other end of the cord to the next right hand 

 spoke one foot below the upper end, or on the inner ring ; 

 proceed in like manner with every other spoke in suc 

 cession ; and it will be found, that, at A, the cord will 

 have the position shown outside the wheel ; while at B, 

 C, and D, it will also take the respective positions, as 

 shown on the outside. The result in this case will be, 

 that, all the weights on the side A, C, D, hang to the 

 great, or outer circle, while on the side B, C, D, all the 

 weights are suspended from the lesser or inner circle. 



