Archimedes

ARCHIMEDES

Archimedes lived from 287 BC to 212 BC in Syracuse, Sicily. He was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer.

He invented many things, for example:

• Archimedes’ screw which serves to draw water at higher height.

https://www.hexapolis.com/2015/07/07/4-remarkable-inventions-of-archimedes-that-still-baffle-us/

• Architonnerre, that was a steam-powered cannon.
• Archimedes’ death Ray: a series of mirrors that collectively reflected concentrated sunlight onto the Roman ships.
• Claw of Archimedes.

THE PROBLEM OF THE GOLD CROWN

Hieron II, king of Syracuse, wanted a gold crown. For that reason, he called a goldsmith to make it.

One day the king told Archimedes to find out if his gold crown was made of true gold.

A few days later, Archimedes was in the bath and he noticed that when he entered, the water level increased. He shouted the famous word "Eureka!". Now he could show the king if his crown was made of gold or not. He discovered that the water level that increased was equal to the volume of the object.

He measured the mass and the volume of the crown (using the method of submerging it), and calculated its density.

He also calculated the density of a gold ingot and a silver ingot.

In the end he arrived at the conclusion that the density of the crown was between the gold and silver, and the goldsmith had tried to deceive the king.

ALAN BOU,   ADRIÀ BOU,   SANDRA LÓPEZ      2º ESO C