Domino effect is a term that describes the way one small action can create a chain reaction that affects many other behaviors. For example, if you make your bed every day, it can trigger a domino effect of other tasks that will help keep your home clean and organized. Or, if a student sees their hard work pay off in a sports game or an academic test score, it can create a domino effect of positive behavior and self-belief.
A domino is a flat, thumbsized rectangular block, the face of which is divided into two parts, each bearing from one to six pips or dots resembling those on dice. There are 28 such pieces in a complete set. Traditionally, dominoes are made of ivory, bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl or MOP), or dark hardwoods such as ebony, with a white or black surface painted with a pattern of dots or pips. More recently, polymer resins have replaced these materials for economic reasons.
Domino sets can be used to play a variety of games. In most of these, the players take turns placing dominoes in a line or angular pattern on the table. The first player to place all of his or her dominoes down wins the round. Players earn points in the game by matching the number of pips on their opposing tiles or by reaching a predetermined target score for a given number of rounds.
If you have an artistic side, you can create incredible designs using dominoes. Domino art ranges from simple straight or curved lines to grids that form pictures when they fall, to 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. Some people even use dominoes to build sculptures, with each piece adding to the overall design.
Lily Hevesh, a 20-year-old from Australia, is a professional domino artist who creates spectacular setups for movies and events, including the album launch of singer Katy Perry. Hevesh has also created a YouTube channel where she posts videos of her works. Her most popular video, “Domino Rally,” has more than 2 million views.
Creating an intricate domino setup takes skill, practice, and the understanding of fundamental physics. Hevesh says the main factor is gravity, which pulls each domino down to the ground when it is knocked. Once her dominoes are in place, she simply waits for them to fall.
In most domino games, additional dominoes can only be placed on the open ends of a layout. These ends are usually straddled by other tiles, allowing them to be connected in all four directions. Some games, however, only allow additional tiles to be placed on the long sides of a double, and in some cases, only on the corners of a double.
Dominoes are a fun activity for children and adults, but can be dangerous to those who aren’t careful. When a domino is tipped over, it can fall onto and damage furniture or other items in the area. Some people have been injured or killed by this type of accident. To avoid injury, always supervise young children when playing with dominoes and be sure to set them up on a level surface in an open area away from furniture and other items that can be damaged by falling dominoes.