Archimedes Many Experts Consider Archimedes

Archimedes

Many experts consider Archimedes to have been the greatest mathematician of his era. The contributions that he made to the field of math, including geometry are considered phenomenal. In addition he is often credited with understanding and anticipating the advent of calculus 2,000 years before it happened. When he was not busy cracking the code to mathematical equations he spent his time inventing machines that included the pulley. Today, many commonly used mathematical concepts are directly related to the mind and development of Archimedes (Archimedes of Syracuse (http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Archimedes.html).

Life

He began his life in 287 BC in a city called Syracuse by the sea in Sicily, Italy. His birth date was determined when he died and those who knew him claimed that he was 75 years old at the time (Biography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes#Biography).

He was born to a father who spent his life as an astronomer.

He spent his life building the foundation for many of today's mathematical calculations, formulas and concepts as well as providing the world with valuable inventions like the pulley. He died in 212 BC in the middle of the Second Punic War.

According to the popular account, Archimedes was busy contemplating a mathematical drawing in the sand. He was interrupted by a Roman soldier and replied impatiently: "Do not disturb my circles." The soldier was enraged by this, and killed Archimedes with his sword (Biography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes#Biography)."

Discoveries and Achievements

Many experts refer to Archimedes as the first math physicist. He contributed the foundation for the later works of Newton and Galileo. One of the things he is most well-known for discovering is the principal behind buoyancy. Legend has it that a crown was prepared for a king and Archimedes was asked to verify its gold qualities and to determine whether gold had been placed in it as well.

He was asked to make these determinations without destroying the crown so he figured out that the density of the crown would determine how fast it would sink in liquid.

Another achievement of his was the Archimedes screw. This invention is a machine that has a revolving screw shaped end that was often used to transfer water from low lying bodies to irrigation canals.

Archimedes cannot be credited with inventing the level however, he was the one who developed the principles that explained how a lever works.

His Law of the Lever states: Magnitudes are in equilibrium at distances reciprocally proportional to their weights. His work on levers caused him to remark: "Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the Earth (Biography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes#Biography)."

One of today's industries that Archimedes is well-known for helping to develop and advance is the field of engineering. Engineering uses a significant amount of mathematics to develop and design countless elements of life, and industry. Archimedes has long since been credited with many of the concepts still used in the engineering field today.

At one point in his life a king commissioned him to design a very large ship that could be used for travel as well as a naval warship.

He did so and it was reputed to be an amazing vessel with garden decorations and a work out area.

Archimedes was well-known for developing concepts that were used much later in society. One of the many concepts that he developed and used during his lifetime, also helped lead to the later development of lasers.

It was during a war that he discovered using a burning glass to force sunlight to focus on attack ships would cause those ships to burst into flames and burn. This was very helpful to the military in his time but also provided a solid foundation from which laser beams were discovered in modern history (Biography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes#Biography).