Doubts in Epitaph of Stevinus .

[iVenky]

Doubts in "Epitaph of Stevinus".

I have attached the link for the image-

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YthztMsYjr4/TMB3Wmis2fI/AAAAAAAABR4/xBmLusI58AU/s400/epitaphofstevinus.png

I can understand that the weight of the body should be proportional to the length of the line. What I can't understand is this- What does those letters "M N O... etc " indicate?
Why is that enclosed?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Doc Al]

What I can't understand is this- What does those letters "M N O... etc " indicate?

I imagine they are just labels of the beads.

Why is that enclosed?

Why is what enclosed?

There's a description of Stevin's Proof on this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inclined_plane#History

 

[tiny-tim]

hi iVenky!

the whole "wreath" is capable of moving round the triangle, keeping the same shape

but (if the wreath has a constant density all the way round, and assuming the rollers have negligible mass) there is obviously no reason for it to do so, and so it must be in equilibrium

ie it is in equilibrium if m₁/L₁ = m₂/L₂

multiplying both sides by the height of the triangle gives m₁sinθ₁ = m₂sinθ₂

 

[iVenky]

Thanks I understood the concept after seeing the proof for that.