A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block that is used as a gaming object. It is sometimes called a bone, card, men, or pieces and is normally twice as long as wide. Each side of a domino bears an arrangement of spots or dots (known as pips) similar to those on a die. A domino is marked with one or more values depending on its type and usually carries a line in the center to divide it visually into two squares, called ends. The value shown on each end of a domino is usually its ranking or “weight”; a domino with more pips has a higher rank than a domino with fewer pips.
When a domino is toppled, much of its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, the energy of motion. Some of this energy is transmitted to the next domino, providing the push needed to knock it over. Energy continues to travel from domino to domino in a chain reaction until all the tiles have been pushed over.
Dominos are a popular game, but they can also be used as tools for personal growth and development. For example, the process of making a financial plan could be broken down into a series of good dominoes: defining your goals, creating a plan, and then executing that plan. When you have a clear goal and know how to get started, it’s easier to stay motivated and focused on the task at hand.
In many games, a player scores by placing a domino so that its exposed ends match. This may be done by laying a tile to the right or left of the first one, and then following with another tile at an angle to either of these, so that its exposed ends match each other (as in, sixes touch sixes). In some cases, a player may score by laying down a double. These may be counted as one or two (for example, a 6-6 counts as 6, but a double-blank counts as 12).
Nick developed his method using only the tools in his grandmother’s garage, which included a drill press, radial arm saw, scroll saw, belt sander, and welder. His goal was to create a set of dominoes that were simple enough to be easily followed by amateur woodworkers and would demonstrate his skill with these tools.
When a domino falls, it is generally accompanied by a loud bang and the louder the domino is, the more impact it has. Similarly, when a person makes a positive change in their life, that change will often be the catalyst for other changes to follow. This is known as the Domino Effect, and it can be applied to a variety of situations. For example, if someone starts exercising regularly, they might find that they also begin to eat healthier. The more of these positive behaviors that are initiated, the better chance of achieving a desired outcome. That is why establishing positive habits is so important.