Author: Dr. Muhtar Ahat

The history of science could be traced back to the ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptian had learnt knowledge of astronomy, engineering, and geometry, etc., however, never been organized and systemized as the science. Most of them have been lost due to lack of the written documents. Fortunately, some of them passed to the ancient Greek. It was said that many great philosophers in ancient Greece such as Plato, Socrates, Euclid, they all visited and learnt in Egypt for a certain time periods. Archimedes was one of them and visited Egypt too, however, his research style was not like others, did research more like modern-day scientist. He is known as one of the greatest mathematician in all time.

Archimedes was a genius whose equal did not appear until Galileo Galilee, 2000 years later. Born the son of an astronomer his relationship with King Hiero II of Syracuse (ancient Sicily) afforded him both independent means and the attention of a man of power.

The principle of hydrostatics that carries his name grew from a problem concerning the gold content of a crown made for Hiero. Archimedes was asked to determine whether the crown was pure gold or was adulterated with silver. After much thought, he realized while at the public baths that he could measure the volume of the crown very accurately by placing it in water and measuring the amount displaced. He then compared the weight of the crown with the weight of an equal volume of gold. This discovery apparently had at least two immediate results. The idea so excited him that Archimedes dashed home naked shouting “Eureka, eureka?and the goldsmith was executed because the crown was not pure.

Archimedes is best remembered for his ingenious machines, which captured the popular imagination, played a role in the wartime defense of Syracuse from the Romans, and in the end resulted in large than life stories about him. For example, the siege of Syracuse by the Romans during the Carthaginian war lasted three years, largely because of the defenses developed by Archimedes. It is said that he developed giant reflecting mirrors that focused sunlight on the Romans ships, setting them on fire. Giant cranes were also used to lift and upset ships. The war ended badly for Archimedes, as he is said to have been stabbed to death by one of the conquering Roman soldiers. At the time, he was doing geometry in the sand and refused to be disturbed.

Many of the stories about Archimedes' inventions are distorted because he himself considered them beneath the dignity of the pure scientist and never left any written record of them. His written testaments include treaties on geometry, where he approached the foundations of calculus, equilibrium and the center of gravity, and hydrostatics.

Archimedes fully understood and demonstrated the importance of the lever. He is said to have arranged a lever and pulley system with which the King himself pulled a large ship onto the shore. His work on the lever and on the importance of the center of gravity laid much of the groundwork for modern mechanics.