A domino is a small rectangular block, the face of which is either blank or marked with dots resembling those on dice. It is a generic gaming device, like playing cards or dice, that can be used to play a wide variety of games. A set of dominoes consists of 28 such blocks.
Whether you’re stacking them on their side to make a curved line, setting them up in a grid to form pictures, or putting them together into 3-D structures, dominoes are fascinating to see. It takes a lot of planning to make these intricate designs work, though. In order to fall correctly, a domino must be spaced properly so that its tip causes the next one to topple and so on. This concept of a cascade is what inspired the term ‘domino effect,’ which describes a series of events that starts with just one simple action and ends up causing much larger consequences.
Dominoes are also a popular way to teach kids about probability. The game teaches them how to count and recognize patterns, as well as about the laws of physics. It’s a great way to get kids excited about math and science.
While some children prefer to use dominoes as toys, others are more interested in the game’s ability to be used for artistic purposes. Some people even create domino art to decorate their homes. They can draw or paint a design on a piece of paper and then lay the dominoes in that shape. Some artists use a combination of straight lines and curved ones, while others include 3-D designs like towers and pyramids.
The first time Hevesh puts together an installation, she test-lays each section to make sure it works. She films these tests in slow motion, which allows her to make precise adjustments. After the test pieces are complete, she begins assembling the larger sections. She starts with the biggest, 3-D sections and then adds flat arrangements and finally lines of dominoes that connect all the pieces.
Hevesh’s finished work often takes several hours to complete. When she’s done, it can be as large as two basketball courts. Her creations are so impressive that she often does public demonstrations.
In addition to the traditional blocking and scoring games, there are also dominoes of a more abstract nature, such as those based on chance or logic. In these games, players start with a smaller number of dominoes than they have spaces for on the board. Then they pick dominoes from the remaining space and lay them, usually by matching their ends. The winner is the player who lays all of his or her dominoes before any opposing players can.
When it comes to writing, there’s a lot of truth in the phrase “the domino effect.” If you don’t plan out your plot ahead of time, you’re likely to end up with scenes that either don’t move the story forward or that feel shallow at important points in the story.
