Why is it possible to drive a nail into a piece of wood with a hammer, but it is not possible to push a nail in by hand?

Question

anonymous · Answer

When you swing a hammer you increase its kinetic energy, so that by the time it strikes the nail it imparts a large force which drives the nail into the wood.

The hammer is basically an energy reservoir to which you are adding energy during the course of the swing, and which is released all at once upon impact. This results in the impact force greatly exceeding the maximum force you can exert by just pushing on the nail.

anonymous · Answer

ur right @ maira

anonymous · Answer

thnx dude

anonymous · Answer

tis common sense put into words of knowledge, i commend u maira :)

anonymous · Answer

well...it is not impossible to drive the nail with your hand..but since our hand yeilds to the small surface area of the nail we get a sensation of pain...we are unable to carry through with it...otherwise marias answer is more then satisfactory..

anonymous · Answer

Well, there are two reasons.
We know 
F=ma 
First of all, we increase the Force on the Hammer by taking it behind and then moving it ahead. so it gets enough force to push the nail into whatever material.

Secondly, Our Skin (with the bones and Muscles) is not as strong (Dense) as the iron hammer is, so as we reach that force, because of the fat and flexibility of sking, the force divides between the bone(s), muscle, skin and the nail.
So we can't push the nail with our hand