You know everytime someone mentions “EUREKA”, that old guy called Archimedes never fails to pop into my mind. Well for the sake of those who haven’t heard the story, Archimedes was this famous (shame on you for not knowing him) scientist and mathematician from Syracuse. He was once asked by King Hiero II to determine if a wreath belonging to the king was made of pure gold. Because the wreath was a holy object dedicated to the gods, Archimedes could not disturb the wreath in any way. (In modern terms, he was to perform nondestructive testing).
Now Archimedes was deeply troubled by this problem, and luckily for him the solution occurred to him when he was bathing. In those days, most people bathed in tubs so when Archimedes lowered himself into the tub for a nice relaxing hot soak, he noticed that quite some water was displaced in the process. He thought for a while, realised the implications, shouted “Eureka!” and happily ran into the streets with hardly a piece of clothing on himself. And that was how he solved the puzzle, and came up with Archimedes’ Principle, which we now study in fluid physics.
I don’t know why but this thought popped into my mind today: “what will become of famous Archimedes if he were in Singapore when that happened?” Ok so I think weird thoughts. But you have to admit the consequences would have been most interesting.
For one, someone would call the police immediately at the sight of a not too young (or hunky) man dashing out of his house naked. I suspect that even if Archimedes simply ran out of his bathroom and into the living room without exiting the apartment, someone would call the police anyway. Singaporeans have this uncanny ability to notice that someone in the opposite block was walking around the apartment indecently dressed. It might have to do with all the practice we get from picking out small flaws in the television shows we watch. Honestly you’ll think that with the high percentage of myopic citizens we have, milk cans lurking in the backdrop (think a drama serial about babies), or even a tiny misjudgment by the film editors (think a purely unintentional Singapore version of Janet Jackson at Super Bowl) would go unnoticed. But no, we always get to read about them in the papers some time later. Uncanny I say.
Anyway let’s get back to Archimedes. Aside from that charge, I think he would have been handed a warning letter from the neighbourhood police. For what you may ask? Well for disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood. Ok this part will require some deducing so let’s all put on our Sherlock Holme’s hat. (In thick British accent) With the kind of excitement that comes with the discovery of a new physics principle, I’m deducing that Archimedes probably wouldn’t have bothered to keep his voice down. Also, judging from the normal bathing habits of people in Singapore, it would have been past dinner time when the incident occurred. Let’s say at about 9pm. Now at this time, people are either enjoying themselves watching television, or not enjoying themselves doing their homework. Both tasks require utmost concentration and focus, and a strange, disturbing shout like “EUREKA” is kind of hard to go unnoticed. Probably there will be several complaints from distressed parents who will be upset over the disruption of peace and thus the inconsiderate creation of a non-conducive studying environment for their children.
So as of now, Archimedes is facing two charges already. He’ll probably try to explain his situation and at the same time expound his wonderful discovery of the Archimedes Principle. This should be a happy ending and closure to the whole incident, he thinks. But he overlooked the fact that it’s Singapore; I bet $10 he forgot to apply for a patent at the relevant ministry.
Poor Archimedes... Talk about stifling creativity… hahah
Now Archimedes was deeply troubled by this problem, and luckily for him the solution occurred to him when he was bathing. In those days, most people bathed in tubs so when Archimedes lowered himself into the tub for a nice relaxing hot soak, he noticed that quite some water was displaced in the process. He thought for a while, realised the implications, shouted “Eureka!” and happily ran into the streets with hardly a piece of clothing on himself. And that was how he solved the puzzle, and came up with Archimedes’ Principle, which we now study in fluid physics.
I don’t know why but this thought popped into my mind today: “what will become of famous Archimedes if he were in Singapore when that happened?” Ok so I think weird thoughts. But you have to admit the consequences would have been most interesting.
For one, someone would call the police immediately at the sight of a not too young (or hunky) man dashing out of his house naked. I suspect that even if Archimedes simply ran out of his bathroom and into the living room without exiting the apartment, someone would call the police anyway. Singaporeans have this uncanny ability to notice that someone in the opposite block was walking around the apartment indecently dressed. It might have to do with all the practice we get from picking out small flaws in the television shows we watch. Honestly you’ll think that with the high percentage of myopic citizens we have, milk cans lurking in the backdrop (think a drama serial about babies), or even a tiny misjudgment by the film editors (think a purely unintentional Singapore version of Janet Jackson at Super Bowl) would go unnoticed. But no, we always get to read about them in the papers some time later. Uncanny I say.
Anyway let’s get back to Archimedes. Aside from that charge, I think he would have been handed a warning letter from the neighbourhood police. For what you may ask? Well for disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood. Ok this part will require some deducing so let’s all put on our Sherlock Holme’s hat. (In thick British accent) With the kind of excitement that comes with the discovery of a new physics principle, I’m deducing that Archimedes probably wouldn’t have bothered to keep his voice down. Also, judging from the normal bathing habits of people in Singapore, it would have been past dinner time when the incident occurred. Let’s say at about 9pm. Now at this time, people are either enjoying themselves watching television, or not enjoying themselves doing their homework. Both tasks require utmost concentration and focus, and a strange, disturbing shout like “EUREKA” is kind of hard to go unnoticed. Probably there will be several complaints from distressed parents who will be upset over the disruption of peace and thus the inconsiderate creation of a non-conducive studying environment for their children.
So as of now, Archimedes is facing two charges already. He’ll probably try to explain his situation and at the same time expound his wonderful discovery of the Archimedes Principle. This should be a happy ending and closure to the whole incident, he thinks. But he overlooked the fact that it’s Singapore; I bet $10 he forgot to apply for a patent at the relevant ministry.
Poor Archimedes... Talk about stifling creativity… hahah
