Archimedes Biography

World of Scientific Discovery on Archimedes

Archimedes is remembered as a mathematician, philosopher, and inventor. It seems, however, that he did not think as much of his numerous inventions--important and fundamental as they were--as he did of his work in the field of mathematics.

Archimedes was born around 287 b.c. in Syracuse, a town in the Greek colony of Sicily. His father was the astronomer Phidias, and he was related to King Hieron II (308 b.c."-216 B.C). Archimedes went to Alexandria about 250 b.c. to study under Conon and other mathematicians who were former students of Euclid. He later returned to Syracuse where he apparently stayed the rest of his life. He was executed by a Roman soldier in 212 b.c.

Archimedes earned the honorary title "father of experimental science" because he not only discussed and explained many basic scientific principles, but he also tested them in a three-step process of trial and experimentation. The first of these three steps is the idea that principles continue to work even with large changes in size. The second step proposes that mechanical power can be transferred from "toys" and laboratory work to practical applications. The third step states that a rational, step-by-step logic is involved in solving mechanical problems and designing equipment.

Some of Archimedes 's accomplishments were with mathematical principles such as his calculation of the value of pi to figure the areas and volumes of curved surfaces and circular forms. During this process, Archimedes used a method similar to integral calculus, which was not to be defined for almost another 2,000 years. He also created a system of exponential notation to allow him to prove that nothing exists that is too large to be measured.

Adherence to these principles led Archimedes to such inventions as block and tackle systems, devices for driving objects using axles and drums, and the water snailscrew. He performed countless experiments on screws, levers, and pulleys. The water snail(also known as the Archimedean screw) is still used in certain parts of the world to raise and move water. This idea of enclosing a screw inside a cylinder to create, in essence, the first water pump, is perhaps his most remembered invention. The Archimedean screw has been the basis for the creation of many other tools, such as the combine and auger drills.

Archimedes 's work with levers and pulleys led to the inventions of compound pulley systems and cranes. His compound pulleys are highlighted in a story that reports that Archimedes moved a fully-loaded ship single-handedly while seated at a distance. His crane was reportedly used in warfare during the Roman siege of his home, Syracuse. Other wartime inventions attributed to Archimedes include: rock-throwing catapults, grappling hooks, and lenses or mirrors that could allegedly reflect the Sun's rays and cause ships to burn.

Archimedes deemed the importance of one of his inventions so great, that he devoted an entire book to the subject. This invention was a self-moving celestial model representing the Sun, Moon, and constellations. The model was incredibly accurate and even showed eclipses in a time-lapse manner. This invention utilized a system of screws and pulleys that moved the globe in their various courses and speeds. His theories in the realm of "statics," particularly in the studies of gravity, balance, and equilibrium, were based on experiments with levers. He also formed bases for hydrostatics (the study of fluids) and discovered the principle of buoyancy and displacement.