The Earth Moved by Machines: Geometrical, Mechanical, Physical, and Hydrostatic Dissertations, in which the powers of joined machines are compared, the Earth's magnitude and weight are investigated by many new methods, and Archimedes, promising the Earth's motion, is vindicated from the suspicion of arrogance

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Original title: Terra machinis mota dissertationes geometricae, mechanicae, physicae, hydrostaticae in quibus machinarum coniugatarum vires inter se comparantur: multiplici noua methodo Terrae magnitudo & grauitas inuestigatur: Archimedes Terrae motionem spondens ab arrogantiae suspicione vindicatur A Latin mathematical dialogue by the Jesuit Paolo Casati of Piacenza that tests Archimedes' boast that he could move the Earth. The speakers are the recently deceased Galileo, Marin Mersenne, and Paul Guldin, who represent Italian, French, and German mathematics. A shorter version, 'Terra machinis mota, eiusque gravitas et dimensio', was printed at Rome in 1655 by the heirs of Corbelletti as two dissertations. The expanded edition was printed at Rome by Ignazio de Lazaris in 1658 as a quarto of about 227 pages with illustrations. After a dedication and preface, the work proceeds through five dissertations. The first shows that joining machines multiplies force more than enlarging them, so that about 106 pulley sheaves could exceed the Earth's weight. The second estimates the Earth's weight, including speculation on the infernal fire at its centre. The third measures the globe by twelve methods and corrects authorities such as Aristotle, Macrobius, Clavius, Biancani, and Porta, whose Pharos mirror is explained as a misreading of 'specula' as 'speculum'. The fourth treats the waters, a geostatic tidal hypothesis refuted with Chinese tide reports, and the weight of air. The fifth discusses the Magdeburg vacuum trials, reaching a plenist verdict, and treats lightness as negative gravity. It concludes that the surrounding water shares the load, so that the Earth could be displaced some 267 miles with its help. Gravity is defined relationally as a body's disposition in the universe, and Archimedes is thereby cleared of the suspicion of arrogance. 👉 Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here 📜 View the original source file This text was transcribed and translated as part of the ExLatinis project—an effort by Leo to make English translations of every published text in Latin in early modern Europe (between 1450 and 1750) available to the public for free online.

• Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here
• View the original source file

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