Domino is a series of rectangular pieces that form a line, normally twice as long as they are wide. They are usually marked with a value, either in the shape of a circle or an upside-down pyramid, and each side may have a number of spots or pips. Some people like to arrange them in straight lines, others use them in curved shapes or grids that form pictures when they fall. Others make 3-D structures that look like towers and pyramids.
You can play many different games with dominoes, such as blocking, scoring, and matching games. There are also games that require strategy and planning, such as solitaire or trick-taking. A domino set normally contains 28 pieces, although some large sets have more. It’s possible to extend a domino set by adding more rows or columns of tiles, making it more difficult to identify the number of pips on each individual piece.
One of the most exciting things to do with dominoes is a chain reaction, when one small domino knocks over another larger one, and then that one knocks over more and more until the entire line comes down. When people build these chains, they try to create the most elaborate effects or reactions before an audience of fans.
Hevesh, an artist who specializes in domino art, plans her displays out on paper before she builds them. This lets her test each part of the display to see if it will work. She also films these tests to see them in slow motion, which helps her refine the design. Once she’s satisfied that each section works well, she assembles the whole display.
In comics, Domino is a mutant who uses her emotion-manipulating powers to be an effective mercenary. She once worked for the mercenary group known as Six Pack and later joined the time-traveling mutant Cable’s X-Force team, though she was often impersonated by Copycat. When the emotion-manipulating Psycho-Man kidnapped Domino, she allied with Cable and Kane to oppose him.
Physicist Stephen Morris, who has studied the physics of dominoes, says that when you stand a domino upright, it stores potential energy, or stored energy based on its position. When you then knock the domino over, this energy is converted to kinetic energy, or energy in motion. The potential energy of the remaining dominoes then causes them to topple as well.
Domino’s popularity as a toy is likely due to its simplicity and versatility. Its durability has made it endure for more than 200 years. The earliest records of dominoes come from Italy and France, where they were first used in the mid-18th century.
When children play with dominoes, they often lay them out in long rows and then push one to knock down the others. These simple games are great for developing motor skills and spatial awareness. They can also help children develop counting and sequencing skills. Creating a pattern with the dominoes is also a good way for children to practice their math skills.