ABSTRACT
Archimedes of Syracuse (circa 287-212 BC) has been called the greatest mathematician of antiquity by none other than Gauss.1 Archimedes was a Renaissance Man2 with abiding interests in mathematics, physics, engineering, and philosophy. In addition, he wrote a set of lecture notes for University Physics entitledMechanica Scientia.3 Syracuse’s leader at the time, King Hieron II, requested [read “demanded”] that Archimedes devise a non-destructive method of determining whether a crown that he had commissioned consisted of pure gold or an adulterated mixture of gold and other metals. The inspiration for Archimedes’ solution occurred to him while he was partaking of his bath. As legend has it, upon realising the import of his discovery, he exclaimed “ǫυρηκα!” and ran-naked-through the Syracusan streets back to his office.
