Simple Machines
Archimedes Lever, Pulley, and Screw
Curated By: Kennedy
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Why was it needed?
The lever, pulley, and screw were needed to further advance building skills and everyday life. They were used for easier transport, technical advances, and simply just by making tasks easier.
Image 1 is a drawing of Archimedes before his discovery of water displacement.
How were these inventions made?
These inventions were made by using previous and newer knowledge together. Over several decades many scientists contributed there works to better each society. As shown in image 3, the lever requires specific weight requirements for certain outcomes. Archimedes was the main scientist behind these inventions. He used basic and intricate knowledge to form laws on each machine.
Archimedes Screw
Archimedes Screw
The screw was invented by Archimedes needing to find a way to remove water from the hull of a ship. He used a pipe and a spiral inside of it. When this screw was rotated it lifted water and carried it out.
Image 2 is an image of the Archimdedean screw.
Image 3 is a representative drawing of Archimedes lifting the world with his lever.
Archimedes Lever
Archimedes Lever
The lever existed long before Archimedes came up with the rule or law. He just made it so that people could understand and know how to use it better. This set the foundation for using the lever in mechanical uses.
Archimedes Pulley
Archimedes Pulley
The pulley also existed long before Archimedes. Archimedes just improved the pulley system for the better. He dispersed the weight of an object on multiple ropes in a pulley system. This reduced the effort in needing to lift heavy objects.
Image 4 is a representation of the advanced Archimdedean pulley system.
Impact on Ancient Greece and Importance of Invention?
These three inventions were so historically important because they became the foundations for knowledge. They allowed for better advancements to the society. They provided better protection benefits, better farming advancements, and better architectural advantages.
Impact on later civilizations?
The screw allowed for better and more efficient irrigation and drainage. The screw is still used today in water treatment plants to move water and sewage. The work Archimedes did on the lever provided a foundation for using simple machines. This allowed better construction for many different civilizations. War machines were created using the Archimedes lever basics. The pulley system Archimedes invented became the basics of modern cranes. His knowledge of pulley systems laid foundations for further engineering advancements.
Image 5
"If you have a heavy person on one side of a seesaw and a light one on the other, you need to move the heavy person closer to the fulcrum and give the lightweight a lot of board. To balance, the product of weight x distance must be the same on both sides of the seesaw."
- The story of science: Aristotle leads the way
This is an example of the 'Law of the Lever" in action
This is a painting of Archimedes using his pulley system to pull a full boat onto dry land
Image 6
This is a representation of how the Archimedes screw is used.
Image 7
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