Domino, or dominoes as they are also known, are small rectangular pieces of wood or ivory that are used to play games by lining them up in long rows and then knocking them over. Some people prefer to create artistic arrangements by stacking them up, while others like to use them as a form of art by painting on them. This week’s WONDER of the Day is inspired by a question from Juan: “What makes a domino fall?”
To answer this question, we need to understand the basic principles of how a domino works. Dominoes have inertia, which is the tendency to stay still unless there’s a force pushing or pulling on them. When a domino is set up, it has potential energy that’s waiting to be unleashed, but it takes a lot of effort for a single domino to move and tip over another one. Typically, the first domino only has to be pushed past its tipping point by a small amount of energy. As that domino falls, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which provides the push needed to set up the next domino in motion.
Each domino has an identity-bearing face that is marked with an arrangement of spots, or “pips,” similar to those on a die. The other side of each domino is blank or identically patterned. The pips on a domino tell its value, which is usually indicated by its color and number of dots, or in some cases, by a written description such as “double six.”
While some sets have no specific meaning other than the pieces themselves, most are designed for playing positional games. The most common type of domino has a double-six configuration on one side, and an equal number of blank or unmarked squares on the other. The total value of a domino is determined by counting the number of pips on both sides.
When playing domino, each player has a personal “train” of dominoes that they must try to complete before other players can touch them. A domino may be added to a train only if it has a matching set of numbers on both sides. If no match is available, the tile is removed from the train and becomes public; this allows other players to build on it, thereby advancing the game toward its conclusion.
In addition to a train of dominoes, each player also keeps track of the numbers of his or her own tiles, or “chips.” If a chip cannot be played, it goes into the “boneyard” until a playable tile is drawn. If a player runs out of chips, the game generally ends, although some versions require both players to run out before this can happen.
Hevesh began creating mind-blowing domino setups when she was 9 years old. She’d take her grandparents’ classic 28-piece domino set home, and she loved setting up the tiles in straight or curved lines, then flicking the first one over to watch them all fall, one after the other. She now creates amazing domino setups for movies, TV shows, and events—including a recent album launch for Katy Perry. When creating one of her domino masterpieces, she uses a version of the engineering-design process that’s similar to how an architect might work on a project.