How did Archimedes discover the law of buoyancy by experiment?

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Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering

ISSN 2095-0233

ISSN 2095-0241(Online)

CN 11-5984/TH

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Front. Mech. Eng.

2016, Vol. 11

Issue (1) : 26-32 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-016-0368-z

RESEARCH ARTICLE

How did Archimedes discover the law of buoyancy by experiment?

Hidetaka KUROKI(

)

Okazaki, Aichi-ken 444-0076, Japan

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Abstract

After Archimedes and Vitruvius era, for more than 2000 years, it has been believed that the displaced water measurement of golden crown is impossible, and at his Eureka moment, Archimedes discovered the law of buoyancy (Proposition 7 of his principles) and proved the theft of a goldsmith by weighing the golden crown in water.

A previous study showed that a small amount of displaced water was able to be measured with enough accuracy by the introduced method. Archimedes measured the weight of displaced water. He did not find the law of buoyancy but rather specific gravity of things at the moment.

After which, Archimedes continued to measure the specific gravity of various solids and fluids. Through these measurements, he reached the discovery of the law of buoyancy directly by experiment. In this paper, the process to the discovery of Archimedes’ principle (Proposition 5) is presented.

Keywords Archimedes’ principle buoyancy specific gravity Eureka Vitruvius displaced water balance floating body

Corresponding Author(s): Hidetaka KUROKI

Online First Date: 20 January 2016 Issue Date: 02 March 2016

Cite this article:

Hidetaka KUROKI. How did Archimedes discover the law of buoyancy by experiment?[J]. Front. Mech. Eng., 2016, 11(1): 26-32.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fme/EN/10.1007/s11465-016-0368-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fme/EN/Y2016/V11/I1/26

Fig.1 Vessel having a beak

Fig.2 Water overflow and stop at OFP

Fig.3 Water weight measurement

Tab.1 Specific gravity measurement of the chosen heavier solid objects

Fig.4 Floating objects: Glass cup, beeswax, and wood block

Tab.2 Specific gravity measurement at forcibly sunk condition

Tab.3 Displaced water measurement of floating objects

Tab.4 Specific gravity measurement of sea water

Tab.5 Specific gravity measurement of 10% salt water

Fig.5 Olive oil weight curve after flow changing

Fig.6 Olive oil weight curve 2 to 20 min

Fig.7 Clepsydra, as 2 min timer

Tab.6 Specific gravity measurement of olive oil

Tab.7 Displaced liquid measurement by floating object in sea water

Tab.8 Displaced liquid measurement by floating object of 10% salt water

Tab.9 Displaced liquid measurement by floating object olive oil

Fig.8 Volume difference of displaced liquid by glass cup

Fig.9 Displaced liquid (olive oil) is balancing with the floating object (glass cup)

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