PERPETUAL MOTION 43 



" Fig. 5 represents a large wheel, the circumference of 

 which is furnished, at equal distances, with levers, each 

 bearing at its extremity a weight, and movable on a hinge 

 so that in one direction they can rest upon the circumfer- 

 ence, while on the opposite side, being carried away by the 

 weight at the extremity, they are obliged to arrange them- 

 selves in the direction of the radius continued. This being 

 supposed, it is evident that when the wheel turns in the 

 direction ABC, the weights A, B, and C will recede from the 

 center; consequently, as they act with more force, they 

 will carry the wheel towards that side ; and as a new lever 



Fig. 5. Fig. 6. 



will be thrown out, in proportion as the wheel revolves, it 

 thence follows, say they, that the wheel will continue to 

 move in the same direction. But notwithstanding the 

 specious appearance of this reasoning, experience has 

 proved that the machine will not go ; and it may indeed be 

 demonstrated that there is a certain position in which the 

 center of gravity of all these weights is in the vertical 

 plane passing through the point of suspension, and that 

 therefore it must stop." 



Another invention of a similar kind is thus described by 

 the same author : 



" In a cylindric drum, in perfect equilibrium on its axis, 

 are formed channels as seen in Fig. 6, which contain balls 

 of lead or a certain quantity of quicksilver. In consequence 

 of this disposition, the balls or quicksilver must, on the one 

 side, ascend by approaching the center, and on the other 



