A domino is a small, thumbsized rectangular block with one face bearing from one to six pips (dots) and another blank or identically patterned. It is used to play various games involving matching the ends of dominoes together and laying them down in lines and angular patterns.
Many different games are played using dominoes, and the rules of each game may vary considerably from one to the next. However, some games use the same name and have very similar or identical rules.
The most common set of dominoes is called a double-six, and it contains 28 tiles. Larger sets are “extended” by introducing dominoes with more than six pips on each end, increasing the number of unique combinations of ends and thus of pieces. Typical extended sets include double-nine, double-12, and double-18.
In a domino game, players take turns drawing and playing tiles. Each time a player draws a domino from the stock, it is added to the line of play in a manner specified by the rules of the game. The lines of play can be straight or curved, and they can form grids that make pictures when the dominoes fall, or they can be 3D structures like towers and pyramids.
When a domino is standing upright, it stores potential energy due to the force of gravity pulling on it. When the domino falls, much of this potential energy is converted to kinetic energy that causes the rest of the dominoes to topple in a chain reaction. A physicist explains it this way: “When you pick up the piece and hold it upright, it has potential energy due to its weight and its position. When you let go of it, that potential energy is converted to kinetic energy that makes the piece move.”
To get the most out of the Domino platform, Hevesh recommends starting with flat arrangements, such as straight lines or curved lines that can make pictures when they fall, or squares that can be laid out in a grid and connect to other sections. She also recommends making test versions of each section and filming them in slow motion to check that the design works well.
Once the Domino platform is working properly, Hevesh can add 3-D structures, and then she can start to build a larger installation. She always tests the pieces first, and then she puts them together in a sequence that starts with the biggest sections, such as stacked walls or towers.
She then goes back and fills in the gaps with smaller curved lines, grids that look like pictures when they are finished, or even a complete domino track for a racing car. Her goal is to create something that looks cool when it’s finished, and she says that it’s important to be patient with this step. The last thing she wants to do is rush the process and create an unbalanced layout. She also suggests placing domino art in places where people will see it to make the most impact.