The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. According to Ty Webb, “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line…in the opposite direction.” I don’t personally know what Ty was getting at, but it’s always nice to infuse a bit of humor when discussing topics as dense as math, physics, and the laws of the universe.
The idea of a straight line as the shortest distance between two points—as well as the invention of the hydrometer, odometer, and the first to accurately approximate the value of Pi—is attributed to third-century Greek mathematician and physicist Archimedes, who some would say is the father of modern calculus. According to learnodo-newtonic.com, “One of the most famous contributions of Archimedes is the Archimedes’ principle. It is said to have been found by him when he was tasked to determine the purity of the gold crown of King Hiero II of Syracuse. The Archimedes’ principle states that a body totally or partially immersed in a fluid is subject to an upward force (buoyant force) that is equal in magnitude to the weight of fluid it displaces. Thus, the net upward force on the object is the difference between the buoyant force and its weight. If this net force is positive, the object rises; if negative, the object sinks.”