Dominoes are small, flat, rectangular blocks used as gaming pieces. They are sometimes called bones, cards, men, tiles or stones, and they can be found in many different games. Most domino sets contain 28 pieces. When playing with these, the first player takes a tile and then adds it to the end of the longest row. The next person adds another tile to that row, and so on, until the last piece is added. Then, the chain of dominoes begins to fall down. Each domino has a unique number of spots or pips on it, and the numbers indicate its value. The sum of the values on both sides of a tile is known as its rank or weight.
A domino has a line running through its middle to divide it visually into two squares. The side with the pips is identified as its end. The other side is blank or identical to the pips. If a domino has no pips, it is referred to as a blank or wild side. A domino with a full set of pips is valued higher than one with only a few pips.
Most people are familiar with the simple game of domino. Some are even familiar with the awe-inspiring domino art, where long lines of the small black and white rectangles are laid out and then knocked over. The process of designing such pieces of domino art can be very complex, and each completed installation is a work of art. Hevesh, who creates these amazing domino setups, follows a version of the engineering-design process to design her installations. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of the installation and brainstorming images or words she might want to include.
Hevesh also makes test versions of each section of an installation to make sure it works correctly. She films the tests in slow motion, which allows her to pinpoint any mistakes that may occur during the installation process. After each successful test, Hevesh adds the final touches and prepares the installation for its debut.
The physics of dominoes is intriguing. When a domino falls, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, the energy of motion. This energy travels from the falling domino to the adjacent ones, giving them the push they need to knock them over. This domino effect is so strong that scientists have measured the force of a single domino.
The word domino is a compound of the Latin dominus, meaning master, and the English domine, or mine. The word may have also been influenced by the French domine or Italian domino, both of which have similar meanings. Despite its complex history, the domino is now a part of everyday language, and its popularity is growing. Many children are introduced to the game in elementary school, and dominoes have continued to be a popular pastime for generations. The WONDERopedia Team hopes you have enjoyed this article! If you have additional questions about the topic, please leave us a comment below.