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Aristotle · Mechanics §26.1-26.3

Why Carrying Long Timber in the Middle Is Easier

Passage 29 of 38 · Greek

Summary

Explains why carrying a long piece of wood by its middle is easier than by its end, using the mechanical principle that the two ends counterbalance and lighten each other.

§26.1Διὰ τί χαλεπώτερον τὰ μακρὰ ξύλαἀπ’ ἄκρου φέρειν ἐπὶ τῷ ὥμῳ ἢ κατὰ τὸ μέσον, ἴσου τοῦ βάρους ὄντος;
Why is it more difficult to carry long pieces of wood on the shoulder by the end than by the middle, when the weight is equal?
Πότερον ὅτι σαλευομένου τοῦ ξύλου τὸ ἄκρον κωλύει φέρειν, μᾶλλον ἀντισπῶν τῇ σαλεύσει τὴν φοράν;
Is it because, when the wood vacillates, the end impedes the carrying, pulling the motion in the opposite direction all the more by its vacillation?
Ἣ κἂν μηθὲν κάμπτηται μηδ’ ἔχῃ πολὺ μῆκος, ὅμως χαλεπώτερον φέρειν ἀπ’ ἄκρου;
Or, even if it does not bend at all and is not of great length, is it nevertheless more difficult to carry it by the end?
ἀλλ’ ὅτι καὶ ῥᾷον αἴρεται ἀπ’ ἄκρου ἢ ἐκ μέσου, διὰ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ φέρειν οὕτω ῥᾴδιον.
Or rather, is it because, although it is easier to lift it from the end than from the middle, it is for the same reason easier to carry it in this way (namely, by the middle)?
§26.2Αἴτιον δὲ ὅτι ἐκ μέσου μὲν αἰρόμενον ἀεὶ ἐπικουφίζει ἄλληλα τὰ ἄκρα, καὶ θάτερον μέρος τὸ ἐπὶθάτερον εὗ αἴρει.
The cause is that, when it is lifted from the middle, the two ends always lighten each other, and one part well lifts the other part.
Ὤσπερ γὰρ κέντρον γίνεται τὸ μέσον, ᾖ ἔχει τὸ αἶρον ἢ φέρον.
For the middle, where that which lifts or carries holds it, becomes as it were a center.
Εἰς τὸ ἄνω οὖν κουφίζεται ἑκάτερον τῶν ἄκρων εἰς τὸ κάτω ῥέπον.
Therefore, each of the ends, while tending downwards, is lightened upwards.
§26.3Ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ ἄκρον αἰρόμενον ἢ φερόμενον οὐ ποιεῖ τοῦτο, ἀλλ’ ἅπαν τὸ βάρος ῥέπει ἐφ’ ἓν μέσον, εἰς ὅπερ αἴρεται ἢ φέρεται.
But when it is lifted or carried from the end, it does not do this, but the entire weight inclines towards the single point where it is lifted or carried.
Ἕστω μέσον ἐφ’ οὔ Α, ἄκρα Β Γ. Αἰρομένου οὖν ἢ φερομένου κατὰ τὸ Α, τὸ μὲν Β κάτω ῥέπον ἄνω αἴρει τὸ Γ, τὸ δὲ Γ κάτω ῥέπον τὸ Β ἄνω αἴρει·
Let the middle be A, and the ends B and C. Therefore, when it is lifted or carried at A, B tending downwards lifts C upwards, and C tending downwards lifts B upwards.
ἄμα δὲ αἰρομένα ἄνω ποιεῖ ταῦτα.
And they do this while being lifted upwards simultaneously.

Notes

  1. §26.1ἴσου τοῦ βάρους ὄντος — Genitive absolute expressing a concessive or circumstantial relation: "although the weight is equal."
  2. §26.1ἀντισπῶν — Present active participle, neuter nominative singular, agreeing with the subject `τὸ ἄκρον` (the end).
  3. §26.1ἀλλ’ ὅτι — Introducing a counter-suggestion or a resolution following the two alternative questions (Πότερον... Ἢ...). It highlights the contrast between "lifting" (αἴρεται) and "carrying" (φέρειν).
  4. §26.2ᾗ ἔχει τὸ αἶρον ἢ φέρον — Relative clause introduced by the adverb `ᾗ` (where). The transitive verb `ἔχει` here means "holds (the wood)" or intransitively "is situated." The neuter participle `τὸ αἶρον ἢ φέρον` (that which lifts or carries) serves as the subject.
  5. §26.3αἰρομένα — Present passive participle, neuter nominative dual, agreeing with the two subjects `τὸ Β` and `τὸ Γ` (the two ends). A notable use of the dual number in Classical Greek.

Cite this passage

Aristotle, Mechanics §26.1-26.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg023.humanitext-grc1:26.1-26.3

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