Arquímedes

Arquímedes of Syracuse was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, and inventor, widely regarded as one of the greatest scientists of antiquity. He lived in Syracuse, Sicily, and was active in the 3rd century BCE. Estimates place his birth around 287 BCE and his death around 212 BCE during the Roman siege of the city.

In mathematics, Arquímedes developed methods for calculating areas and volumes and made early advances in geometry. He used a form of exhaustion to approximate pi, showing that its value lies between 223/71 and 22/7. He established relationships regarding the area of a circle and the volumes and surface areas of a sphere and its circumscribed cylinder. His work on curves and solids influenced later mathematics, with several treatises such as On the Sphere and Cylinder and On Floating Bodies describing his results.

In physics, Arquímedes formulated the principle of buoyancy, now known as Archimedes’ principle: a submerged body experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. He is also associated with the study of simple machines, particularly the lever and pulley, illustrating how mechanical advantage can be achieved with appropriate arms and forces.

As an engineer and inventor, Arquímedes is reputed to have designed devices to defend Syracuse during the Second Punic War, including various war machines and a legendary claw that allegedly lifted ships from the harbor; accounts of a heat ray are debated by historians. He also devised the Archimedes screw for lifting water, a device that has been used for centuries.

Arquímedes’ legacy endures in mathematics, physics, and engineering. He is remembered for his rigorous approach to problems and for the enduring anecdotes of his discoveries, including the celebrated Eureka moment.