How Do Dominoes Work?
A domino is a game piece, the shape of which resembles a little white and black teddy bear with a flat nose, that is used to mark the end of a line of other pieces. The lines can be straight or curved and the pieces can be set up in a row so that one ends up touching the other. When the first domino is knocked over, it triggers a chain reaction that causes the other pieces to fall as well.
Like playing cards, of which they are a variant, dominoes have markings on one side that identify them as one of the several possible outcomes when a die is rolled. These markings, called pips, differ from one domino to the next, although some of the more common ones, such as the numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7, correspond with particular sets of tiles.
Dominoes have been around since the 1300s and they are used for a wide variety of games, from professional domino competition to a simple game of laying two tiles so that one is touching another with matching pips on both ends of the line. They can also be used for scoring in positional games, such as the game of chinese checkers (or twenty-six), where players place pieces so that they touch each other with their exposed sides in a pattern that forms a number or total.
The ability of dominoes to create an elaborate and intricate arrangement from a small amount of material is fascinating. But how do they actually work? Watch the video below to find out how a domino artist uses science to create her mind-blowing domino designs.
In the case of Lily Hevesh, a domino artist who has set records for creating massive circular arrangements, gravity is the key to her success. Watch the video below to learn how she explains why this physical force, along with other principles of physics, allows her to create her stunning setups.
A good story is much like a domino cascade: the scenes must be spaced correctly in order to keep the readers interested. The scene should advance the plot in some way (either by moving a character closer to or farther from their goal) and it must be short enough that the reader can quickly see the next domino that needs to fall.
The same principle applies to the writing process. Keeping an eye on the “domino effect” will help you avoid overwriting, which can slow the pace of your novel or make it feel repetitive or dull. A good editor can help you spot potential problem areas before they turn into a domino effect.