> The leads that are closer to the center of the key will move less >distance and at a slower inch per second rate than leads out at the >end. Since the inertial effect of mass seems to be exponentially >linked to speed, keys so leaded should demonstrate less inertial >resistance to heavy playing than. A good explanation of the so called "accelerated action", whose concept of lead weights near the fulcrum has been vague to me at least. If Newton's law stands "force is equal to mass times acceleration" and if I am not mistaken in equating inertia with force. (inertia the force of a moving object) The more mass to be moved needs more force. The piano key in motion is most always a problem of acceleration. I always feel no matter how hard or soft the blow I am always accelerating the key. Does Steinway really think that three weights near the center rail will offer less inertia resistance (moving less distance) than one weight further out? In the three lead case the mass is three times the mass of the one lead further out. I am no physicist but I think they would say 3 leads close up offers the same resistance or takes the same amount of force to accelerated one lead further out. Balance is balance. It is easy to see you can balance a key with three leads close to the balance point or one closer to the capstan. If the balance is the same but one has more mass than the other, does it require more force to move more mass? Is this line of thinking the reason why I almost flunked high school physics? ---rm ----- Original Message ----- From: <A440A@aol.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 5:33 PM Subject: Re: Key Leads and Inertia > > The leads that are closer to the center of the key will move less distance > and at a slower inch per second rate than leads out at the end. Since the > inertial effect of mass seems to be exponentially linked to speed, keys so > leaded should demonstrate less inertial resistance to heavy playing than > those that is not. > I have found that leading the keys inboard like this,(part of the original > Steinway "Accelerated Patent) makes for a better feeling action. I think > this is because of less change in inertial resistance as the force of the > playing increases. > > > > > Ed Foote RPT
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