Who was Archimedes?  By Wally Jukes

Archimedes is recorded as born in 287 B.C., a very long time ago in a place far different from now.  The place was Syracuse, Sicily. Math and calculations were discoveries not just the normal logical thinking.  This was an era of Roman and Greek Philosophy, the newest age thinkers and glorious creations of artistic impressions on the world. 

Archimedes is best known for his many inventions based on his theories.  His best well-known theories are generally relating to mathematics and geometry.  His definition and calculations done with π consumed most of his spectacular life.  The value calculated by Archimedes of π was stated as: 3 10/71 < pi < 3 1/7. He calculated these numbered by circumscribing and inscribing a circle with regular polygons having 96 sides. 

Archimedes made some very important accomplishments in the field of Geometry. Among them is that he proved that the volume of a sphere is two-thirds the volume of a circumscribed cylinder. 

The creation of the Archimedes screw revolutionized the movement of water.  Building what is simply stated as a tube with a turning screw inside propelled water through the tube creating mechanized propulsion moving the water from one place to another.  We put this in the relevance with the aqua ducts and agriculture and this is revolutionary.  Archimedes created many working water screws adapting it for many uses in some of the greatest lands. 

A less famous Archimedes invention was called “The Burning Mirrors” Archimedes was a mathematician.  Angles and geometry controlled his thoughts and the way he saw things. So its no wonder in a time of warring nations Archimedes would use his thinking for weaponry. He had fashioned a weapon from a reflection of a big mirror and the sun. The mirror would sit on the cliff and be angled to connect with the oncoming ship.  The concentration of heat was said to set the ship on fire as it approached. Archimedes contributed many more revolutionary war weapon ideas during this time. 

My favorite and most practical invention of Archimedes was his lever. He had been quoted for saying, "Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth."  The principal of moving anything with some basic mathematical principals applied to so many practical applications. The actual principal as stated by Archimedes in his writing translates from Greek as: “Magnitudes are in equilibrium at distances reciprocally proportional to their weights”. 

He was killed in 212 B.C. by Roman solider when the Romans invaded Sicily. He was doing a mathematical problem when a Roman soldier confronted him. He refused to move until his problem was finished so the soldier ran a sword through him and killed him on the spot. In Archimedes tomb he requested (before he died) that a sphere containing a cylinder, with the ratio of the two inscribed upon it, be placed on his tomb. 

Many life-defining theories are born and documented from this time.  This article is not meant only to be tribute or reference to this great thinkers accomplishment, but to stimulate you as the reader’s imagination.  Refresh you thinking, by building and recognizing ideas can mold the world. Archimedes discoveries, principals and theories are now considered the basics and standards of mathematics today. Have all rootamentry building blocks been discovered?  Defining things to the best of our ability will create our future and our next generation. 

Quick facts about Archimedes . . .