Dominoes are small oblong pieces with numbered ends, used in games to create lines of dominoes whose fall triggers a chain reaction that continues until all the tiles have fallen. When used to create a work of art, they can be stacked in elaborate ways to form shapes or to build 3D structures. Dominoes can also be set up to demonstrate a scientific principle, like the domino effect.
Dominos are traditionally played with a double-six set of 28 tiles. These tiles are arranged edge to edge on a table, with one end of the domino matched up against the other to form either an identical line or a specific total value. The game’s name derives from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord,” but its origin is obscure.
Some of the earliest dominoes were made in China, with a design that is functionally similar to playing cards. These were later replaced by rectangular tiles with carved pips on both sides. Early Western dominoes were also made of wood or ivory, but today the majority are molded from clay. The earliest modern dominoes are manufactured in factories, but some people still make them by hand, using clay from local suppliers.
A domino’s pips can be marked in many different ways, but the most common are dots and dashes. The number of dots on a domino corresponds to the numbers 1 through 6, but there are also some tiles with additional markings, such as hearts or diamonds. In addition, some tiles have blank or striped sides.
As you might expect, the more pips on a domino, the more complex its potential for an intricate and mind-blowing arrangement. Some of the most famous domino artists are able to create a massive series of dominoes that are capable of toppling in a precisely controlled and beautiful fashion, usually before a live audience. The large, complicated setups take a long time to construct, and even the smallest dominoes can take several nail-biting minutes to fall.
Hevesh, a 20-year-old professional domino artist with more than 2 million YouTube subscribers, builds mind-blowing displays that often involve hundreds or thousands of pieces. She begins each installation by creating a detailed plan for how it will look, and she makes test versions of each section. She films these tests in slow motion to help correct any problems, such as uneven or tilted sections. Once she is satisfied that the individual sections are working properly, Hevesh brings them together to create her larger layouts.
Before Hevesh knocks over one of her creations, it stands right where she put it, held in place by a force known as inertia. Inertia is a type of potential energy that is stored in the matter, and it acts as resistance to change. When Hevesh hits a domino, it releases that energy and falls over.
When writing a novel, figuring out how your story will unfold can be challenging. But if you consider the principles of domino, it can help you make sure your story has a strong structure. As you write, ask yourself whether the scenes in your story logically connect and progress in the direction that your character’s emotions suggest they should. If not, you might want to rethink your plot.