Dominoes are a fun way to pass the time, but they’re also an excellent analogy for how we should approach our daily lives. The small actions we take can have a big impact on the outcome of our lives, but it’s not always easy to know which tasks will make the biggest difference. The key is to pick the “dominoes” that will have a huge ripple effect in our life, and prioritize those over all others. For example, if you’re struggling with finances, working on a budget could be a good domino to start with because it will improve your financial situation in the long run.
A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block with either one or six pips on each side (or dots). Each end of the domino features a number, ranging from six pips down to none or blank; 28 such pieces form a complete set of Western dominoes. The name comes from the fact that each domino can be stacked on top of other ones, creating a chain reaction once the first one is knocked over.
The speed at which a domino falls is based on the amount of energy it has stored. As the first domino hits its edge against another, it transforms into a pulse that travels down the line at a constant speed without losing energy. This is similar to the process of nerve impulses in the body, which travel at a fixed speed no matter how big the triggering signal is.
When you play a game of domino, each player in turn places a domino on the table positioning it so that its matching ends touch each other. This creates a snake-like chain that gradually increases in length. Once a tile is played to a double, it cannot be moved, so the next player must place a domino on the same edge but in the opposite direction.
As each new domino is placed, it can influence the shape of the chain and even create gaps in its structure. But the ultimate goal of a domino chain is to connect every piece in a line and create a single, flowing pattern that can be admired and enjoyed by all.
The most complex domino setups can take hours or even days to fully fall. Hevesh makes a point of testing each section of her mind-blowing installations to ensure that it works correctly. She starts with the largest 3-D sections and then adds flat arrangements before assembling them into lines of dominoes. She also films her tests in slow motion, which allows her to see exactly what she needs to change to fix any issues.
Hevesh’s domino creations rely on a variety of physical phenomena, but the most important is gravity. She explains that once a domino is knocked over, gravitation pulls it toward the earth and pushes it onto the next domino, converting potential energy into kinetic energy and setting off a chain reaction.
