A domino is a small rectangular tile with an arrangement of dots, known as pips, on both sides. It is one of a set of 28 tiles used to play a game in which players attempt to build a line of dominoes, each matched by the value of a preceding tile, until all are knocked over. Dominoes have many uses beyond playing games, from lining them up to create artistic displays to using them as educational tools for children and adults.
A more modern interpretation of the word comes from Latin dominus, meaning “lord” or “master.” The first dominoes were made from wood, but later sets became available in other materials, including ivory, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), and ebony. Today, dominoes are most commonly made from polymer, a type of plastic. They may also be made from other natural materials, such as stone (e.g., marble or granite); soapstone; metals (e.g., brass or pewter); ceramic clay; or even frosted glass.
When a person knocks over a domino, it releases energy, which travels to the next domino until all are pushed over by this force. This process is called the domino effect, and it happens because each domino has potential energy, which turns into kinetic energy as it falls. Once the initial domino has fallen, most of this kinetic energy is transferred to the next domino, which then provides the push needed for it to fall. As a result, each domino has less and less potential energy, until finally it has none at all and falls over.
Dominoes can be very powerful, especially when they are all the same size. A 1983 study by University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead found that a single domino can knock over an object about one-and-a-half times its own size. This is a testament to the strength of this chain reaction, which is used in some disaster movies as a way to demonstrate the power and speed of a nuclear explosion.
Another example of the domino effect is the way in which a chain of events can change a business or a society. When Domino’s Pizza CEO Don Meij appeared on the TV show Undercover Boss, he sent himself to work in several of the company’s busiest restaurants. He observed the line of communication between employees and customers and saw how a company can change its culture through open, honest communications.
When a domino is set up, it’s important to think carefully about the order in which the pieces will fall. This will help ensure that a character’s emotional beats progress as the story demands and that the final scene logically follows the scenes that came before it. To test this, try setting up a few dominoes and then touching the first one very gently with your finger. Notice what happens and then repeat the experiment with a little more force each time. Taking the time to carefully plan your plot can help you write more compelling stories.