Archimedes principle and law of the lever
Principio de Arquímedes y ley de la palanca
- Date
- c. 250 BCE · confidence medium
- Place
- Syracuse, Sicily, Italy
- Credited to
- Archimedes of Syracuse
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What was discovered
A submerged body experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces; and quantities balance at distances inversely proportional to their weights. The first axiomatic mathematisation of physics (statics and hydrostatics).
Included as a mathematical-physical result: On Floating Bodies is derived from postulates in the Euclidean style.
What it led to
- mathematical physics
- statics and centres of gravity
- hydrostatics
Built on
- Euclidean axiomatic geometryc. 300 BCE
- Euclidean geometry
Made possible
- Shadufc. 2000 BCE
- Compound pulley (block and tackle)c. 250 BCE
- Wheelbarrowc. 100 CE
- ship design
- scales
- simple machines