Archimedes' Discoveries & Legacy

The process of measuring the volume of an irregularly shaped object is the most celebrated of Archimedes’ inventions. The inventor was called upon by King Hiero II, the King of Syracuse, to verify, if his votive crown was created using entirely pure gold or whether the goldsmith had cheated him by substituting some silver for gold. Archimedes was asked to find the answer, without causing any harm to the crown, and, therefore, the crown could not be melted into a more evenly shaped body for determining its density.

The claw of Archimedes was devised to safeguard Syracuse from invasions and attacks, and is famously known as the ‘ship-shaker’. This device resembles the crane’s arm and it balanced a huge metal hook, which was suspended in the air. As the claw was dropped onto a ship, which was attacking, the arm of the device would swing upwards to raise the ship out of the water and possibly result in the sinking of the ship.

Archimedes invented an ingenious device to destroy enemy ships. It was called Archimedes’ Heat Ray. This device entailed a series of mirrors that was used to converge sunlight on the attacking ships. The concentrated form of light resulted in increasing the temperature and, thus, burned down the ships. In the recent times, Heliostat or solar furnace has been created and this device works in similar ways as that of Archimedes’ Heat Ray.

Archimedes may be no more, but his legacy lives on. In his honor, people from all over the globe, celebrate the International Bath Day on June 14, every year. This day is viewed upon as an opportunity to allow kids come up, with their own discovering skills, while enjoying bath-time.