The domino is a small, flat rectangular block of rigid material used to play games of chance or skill. Its earliest uses date to prehistoric times, when it was made of tetrapodium, clay or stone. Today, it is usually a plastic or resin composite. It is also sometimes referred to as a bone, cards, men, pieces, or tiles. Dominos are normally twice as long as they are wide, allowing them to be stacked one on top of another. Their front side features a line across the middle to divide it visually into two square halves, each marked with an arrangement of spots, called pips. Each half has a value that ranges from six to zero, with the latter represented by a blank space or a missing spot. The number of pips on each side is sometimes referred to as its rank or weight.
The most common and recognizable domino is a double-six set. However, there are many different kinds of sets available. These may be specialized for certain games or designed to fit the needs of a particular user or environment. For example, some domino sets are smaller or have a different color pattern for easier identification. Others are made to be more durable, or to accommodate younger players with limited motor skills.
While some people use dominoes to teach their children how to count, it is also possible to build more elaborate domino structures that can be used for artistic or scientific purposes. For example, a colorful spiral made of thousands of dominoes can be used to show how a simple sequence of events can result in an entirely new shape. A domino set can also help students learn how to organize and plan their work.
Another way that dominoes can be used is to illustrate a story. Using dominoes to represent the scenes in a novel can help the writer create a more vivid and interesting narrative. In nonfiction, a domino can be a single point to support an argument or idea.
As an art form, domino can be used to create beautiful sculptures and works of art. Artists can design their own patterns or make a stencil and then apply them to the surface of a domino. They can also paint on a domino or even cover it with gold leaf for an elegant look.
Dominoes have a natural tendency to resist motion, especially when there is no outside force pushing against them. However, a small nudge can cause a chain reaction of dominoes that eventually topples the whole lineup, one at a time. This is why domino shows are so fascinating to watch—scores of thousands of dominoes, each carefully positioned in its place by a skilled builder, all waiting for that one little nudge. Today’s Wonder of the Day is courtesy of Lily Hevesh, who has been building dominoes since she was 9. Click here to see her amazing 15-color rainbow spiral!