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If your new theorem can be stated with great simplicity, then there will exist a pathological exception.
In H. Eves Return to Mathematical Circles, Boston: Prindle, Weber and Schmidt, 1988.
Loci: Convergence
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Archimedes' Method for Computing Areas and Volumes
Solutions to Exercises
Exercise on Proposition 4:
a) Each cross-section of the cylinder, left where it is, balances the cross-section of the paraboloid, moved to H.
b) Thus the cylinder, left where it is, will balance the paraboloid moved so that its center of gravity is H. By the Law of the Lever we have
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Now |AH| = |AD| so this implies that the volume of the paraboloid is 1/2 the volume of the cylinder.
c) If r is the radius of the cylinder, then the height is h = r2 (since the paraboloid is generated by the curve x = y2). So the volume of the cylinder is \(\pi\)r2h = \(\pi\)r4, and so the volume of the paraboloid is \(\pi\) r4/2.
Exercise on Proposition 6:
a) Each cross-section of the hemisphere together with the cross-section of the cone, left where they are, balance the cross-section of the cone moved to H.
b) Thus the hemisphere and cone, left where they are, balance a cone placed so that its center of gravity is at H. Let X be the location of the center of gravity of the hemisphere. By the Law of the Lever,
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Now we know that
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Putting this information into the above equation and solving for |AX| one finds that
|AX| = (5/8)|AG|.
For more information, consult:
[1] T. L. Heath, The Works of Archimedes, Dover, New York, 1953.
[2] Sherman Stein, Archimedes: What Did He Do Besides Cry Eureka?, Mathematical Association of America, 1999.
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