Manipulation is the process where an object is changed or modified to withhold a new, or different, purpose. The word manipulation comes from the Latin term, "Manipulus", meaning a handful. Manipulation has existed since the beginning of mankind itself. Early humans were known to "manipulate" materials, such as wood, to create new tools or products, such as spears, used to hunt animals.
Different forms of manipulation have been created, all used for different purposes. Physical manipulation is when a material is physically reshaped or reformed. Chemical manipulation is when a chemical reaction occurs to produce a new object. An example of this is using thermal energy to reform a material.