Domino: the Power of Little Things
The domino effect is the phenomenon that results when one small thing causes another small thing to fall. This chain reaction is well known in the form of a single domino that knocks over a series of larger ones, or a large stack of books that all fall when the first one is tipped over. But in fact, a single domino can actually create a cascade that is about one-and-a-half times its size. University of Toronto physicist Stephen Morris demonstrates this by setting up 13 huge dominoes. The first domino only needs to be tipped forward by the width of a fingernail before gravity takes over and they all tumble down.
Domino: The Game
There are many games that can be played with a set of dominoes, each with its own rules and objectives. In some cases, the objective is to score a certain number of points by placing dominoes end-to-end such that their exposed ends sum to multiples of five or three. For example, if you play a two-sided domino that has the pips of four at one end and five at the other, the total points is scored by adding them together as shown below:
Another common goal of a domino game is to empty one’s hand by blocking the opponents’ play. Some examples of this include bergen, Muggins, and Mexican Train. Other games involve counting the pips of one’s remaining dominoes to determine the winners.
Dominos have also become a popular way to decorate walls and furniture, with art pieces created using straight lines or curved ones, grids that make pictures when they fall, stacked walls, and 3D structures such as pyramids. Many artists use templates to plan out their domino designs before they begin working.
For some people, domino art is a relaxing hobby that gives them a chance to be creative while focusing on a task that requires concentration and precision. Some domino artists also make money creating custom domino sets for events, movies, and TV shows.
In writing, a domino image can be useful as a tool to help writers weed out scenes that don’t logically connect with the scene ahead of them. For example, if the heroine of a mystery uncovers a clue but then the next scene doesn’t reveal any new information about the case, it might be time to cut the scene.
Dominos are a fun and easy-to-use way to learn the principles of physics. They can also be used to teach children the importance of being careful when moving objects, as they can easily get out of control. In addition to playing domino games, they can be used for school projects to show how forces can affect an object. A few tips for playing dominoes safely include: