Expert: Maria - 2/21/2010

Question
Hi,
What does Archimedes mean by saying: "Give me but one firm spot on which to stand, and I will move the earth."?

Answer
Hello,

First of all the original quote from Archimedes is the following:

-”Give me a lever and I shall move the earth”
(“Δός μοι μοχλòν και τὴν γῆν κινήσω” in ancient Greek letters).

What he wanted to mean by saying this is  that with a given force he could move any given weight.

The ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes (died 212 BC ) had in fact investigated properties of the lever and pulley.

Regards,
Maria