Hammer

: The most common household tool, featuring a curved "claw" for pulling nails.

: As metallurgy advanced, hammer heads transitioned from stone to bronze around 3,000 BCE, and eventually to iron and steel by 1,200 BCE. hammer

Beyond its utility, the hammer is a powerful cultural symbol of creation, industry, and authority. : The most common household tool, featuring a

: Heads made of softer materials like rubber, wood, or plastic to strike objects without damaging the surface. : Heads made of softer materials like rubber,

A hammer works by storing kinetic energy during the swing and releasing it rapidly upon contact. This process multiplies force: because the head stops over a very short distance, the force it applies to the target is significantly higher than the force used to swing it.

: The first patent for the modern hammer—featuring a metal head and a hardwood handle—was granted to Theodore H. Gilman in 1875. The Mechanics of Impact