A domino is a small rectangular block with a ridge across the face, bearing identifying marks on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. Each domino belongs to a suit (normally marked with numbers from 1 to 6, or by dots that resemble those on dice). The suits indicate the values of the sides and can be used for scoring purposes.
Dominoes are usually stacked up or placed side-by-side, but they may also be arranged in lines. When the first domino is knocked over, it initiates a chain reaction. The remaining pieces will then fall down according to the rules of the game being played. There are many different games that can be played with dominoes, but most of them use the same basic rules.
The word domino comes from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord,” or master. It is also derived from a Greek word that means “to lead.” Dominoes are often referred to as bones, cards, chips, tickets or tiles. A domino is typically twice as long as it is wide, which makes them easier to re-stack after use.
In a set of dominoes, each domino has an identity-bearing side that contains an arrangement of pips, or spots, that is unique to that particular piece. The other side of a domino is blank or has a pattern that matches the suit of its partner. A domino that belongs to more than one suit is called a double, and those with the same value on both ends are known as singles.
Most dominoes are made of clay or wood, but they can also be plastic or metal. The most common set contains 28 dominoes, but larger sets exist that include more or fewer pieces. Each domino has a center of gravity that is determined by its shape and the amount of mass it carries. A domino with a larger mass has greater inertia and requires more force to move.
Stephen Morris, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto, recently demonstrated the true power of the domino effect. In a video, he set up 13 dominoes, each about 1.5 times as large as the previous one. A slight nudge was all it took for the first domino to pass its tipping point and knock over all of its neighbors.
When Hevesh creates her mind-blowing domino setups, she follows a version of the engineering-design process. She tests each section of the display before putting it all together. Each test allows her to correct any errors in the design before it goes live.
When you think of the term “domino effect,” it most likely conjures up a scene in which something big, like a building or an airplane, falls over after someone else pushes on it. But the domino effect can happen at a much smaller scale as well. The tiny nudge of the first domino can cause a chain reaction that eventually leads to something far bigger than anyone ever imagined.