Biography
Archimedes was born in 287 B.C. in the port of Syracuse, Sicily in the colony of Magna Graecia. His father was Phidias, who was an astronomer about whom nothing is known. We derive this information about Archimedes from his work "The Sand Reckoner".
In those times, in the absence of paper or blackboards, Archimedes used dust, ashes or any other available surface to draw his geometric figures. He used to get so engrossed in his work that sometimes he forgot to eat. It is alleged that he drew figures on his body after bathing and applying olive oil. According to the Greek historian John Tzetzes, who was famous for his research on Byzantinne Greek era, Archimedes lived for 75 years.
Except for the period of his life where he attended school in Alexandria at Euclid's, Archimedes spent all his life at Syracuse. Ancient Greek biographer Plutarch, relates Archimedes to King Hiero II of Syracuse. He says Archimedes achieved so much fame because of his relation to King Hiero II and Gelon (son of King Hiero II). He was a close friend of Gelon and helped Hiero solve complex problem with extreme ease, utterly amazing his friend.
Archimedes died in 212 B.C. during the Second Punic war, when Syracuse was captured by the Roman forces after a two year siege.
According to Plutarch, Archimedes was researching a mathematical diagram, when a Roman soldier ordered him to meet General Marcus (who was engaged in the siege of Syracuse). But Archimedes declined saying that he had to finish his diagram. Furious, the Roman soldier killed Archimedes. General Marcus was angered by the death of Archimedes, because he didn't wish him any harm. Another popular theory regarding Archimedes' death is that he was killed while actually surrendering to the Romans.
Archimedes' Inventions
Archimedes has many discoveries and inventions to his credit, but he considered his theoretical work as his main triumph. Along with his inventions in mathematics and geometry, he is also known for the weapons he created for King Hiero II to help protect Syracuse. He is credited with many inventions in the field of mathematics and physics such as "Death ray", "Archimedes claw", hydrostatics, calculus, etc..
Here, ane will only discuss some of the discoveries of Archimedes which I believe is absolutely brilliant. The discoveries include:
1. Hydrostatic principle
Once when Hiero had ordered a gold crown, he suspected that the crown was not made of pure gold but also silver. However, he could not prove this. He told the Archimedes of his suspicions.
One day Archimedes as the thoughts that revolve around the issue, he took a bath in the tub. He realized that the amount of water that overflowed the tub was proportional to the amount of the submerged body. In the realization he shouted out of the bath "Eureka, Eureka" and ran out into the streets of Syracuse naked right.
In his' Body Floating ', this principle is known as' Archimedes Principle.
2.Screw Water Pump
Although Archimedes did not find a lever, he discovers the reason behind why it works. It is said that he said, "Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth." Plutarch describes how Archimedes designed a pulley block and tackle systems, allowing sailors to use the principle of leverage to lift objects that should definitely too heavy to shift. It is also said that Archimedes built the ship Syracusia, which was at that time the largest ship capable of carrying 600 passengers. Because the ship of this size would leak a large amount of water through the hull, the Archimedes screw purportedly developed to remove bilge water. Screw is a machine with a revolving screw-shaped blade inside a cylinder. He turned by hand, and can also be used to transfer water from low-lying place into irrigation canals.
3.Archimedes Claw
Archimedes Claw / claw Archimedes created to defend the city of Syracuse. Known as the 'ship-beaters', it was shaped like a crane arm, where a large metal hook is balanced. When the bites inflicted on a ship attacked, would lift the ship by swinging the arms up and then sink the ship.
Roman army was originally thought that an easy thing to conquer the city of Syracuse is only a few soldiers guarded. But it turns out a massive attack in the Roman army who sailed successfully broken using a large number of war machines of Archimedes
4.Death Ray
There are many doubts about the weapons Archimedes death ray. But in 2005, Death Rays proven and tested by the University classes (MIT). Using more than a hundred mirrors, they make a dummy profile of timber ships with a 5 inch thick which ignited after focusing all mirrors to a certain point on the ship. experiment is then carried out again on a real boat in the water with the help of 'Mythbusters'. Thus proven Archimedes death ray as no longer a theory but a definite possibility that this death ray tactics "used against the Roman ships in Syracuse.
So much from me, may be useful
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