Domino is an exciting toy that kids love to line up in long rows and knock over. Adults are also fascinated by the complex patterns that can be created. In this Wonder of the Day, we’ll take a closer look at the physics behind domino. We’ll also find out how a domino effect can be used to help people in crisis.
A domino is a small rectangular block of wood, bone, or plastic, used as a game piece or for building structures. It has a face that is divided into two square halves, each marked with an arrangement of spots resembling those on dice (or blank for zero). The face of the domino is usually called the “boneyard.” Each domino in a set has a number of dots on each end, which are usually molded or painted. These numbers, called pips, identify the domino and indicate its value in a game.
In a game of domino, one player turns over a domino and then lays it down with its matching ends touching. The exposed pips then determine how many points the player earns. A single domino is worth one point, a double is worth two, and a triple is worth three. A person who wins the game by scoring all of their own dominoes is called a champ.
The simplest way to play domino is to place the first tile down and then follow its path of motion, adding more pieces to the chain in order until it runs out or you reach a limit. A chain of dominoes may form a circle, a cross, or an X. Domino chains are also a feature of certain types of board games.
Each domino has a center of gravity that pulls it down when it is touched. That is why the first domino often falls without much effort if it is simply nudged. In fact, a domino only needs to be moved about an inch for its force to be amplified by the force of gravity. The result is that the 13th domino can come crashing down almost as quickly as the first tiny one. This amplification is what is known as the domino effect.
A domino can even topple things that are over a billion times its size, such as the massive pillars of the World Trade Center after they were struck by a plane on September 11, 2001. Physicist Stephen Morris has studied how the domino effect works, and in a video clip he explains that it only takes a little nudge to trigger a chain reaction.
The same principle applies to writing a story. When you create a scene, it must be able to connect with the scenes that precede it and raise tension. Otherwise, it will have the same effect as a single domino on its own. For example, if your heroine uncovers a clue but the next scene doesn’t build on it or increase tension, you have missed the mark. Using outlines or a tool like Scrivener to plan your story can prevent this type of problem.