Domino is a game of chance that involves arranging a series of flat, thumb-sized rectangular blocks in straight or curved lines. Each block has a face that is blank or carries one to six dots, called pips. A domino set typically contains 28 tiles and can be played with alone or with two or more players. The most popular domino games are layout games and blocking games. Other types of domino play include scoring and pattern games.
Dominoes are a favorite childhood toy for many people, and it’s easy to see why: They’re mesmerizing to watch as one small movement causes the whole line to fall. As adults, we use dominoes in more sophisticated ways: building intricate tracks that create a variety of shapes, constructing 3D structures like towers and pyramids, or even making art using them. This month’s Wonder of the Day takes inspiration from these awe-inspiring creations and explores how a simple toy can be used to illustrate principles of science and engineering.
When Lily Hevesh created her 15-color spiral in 2017, she used 12,000 dominoes! To do so, she followed a version of the engineering-design process. First, she considered the theme or purpose of the installation, then brainstormed images that would represent those ideas. Next, she designed the track where the dominoes would go and calculated how many pieces she’d need to achieve her vision. Finally, she tested and redesigned her design until it worked.
In the real world, we often experience a domino effect when dealing with challenges in our lives. It might be as simple as a little mistake that leads to big trouble or a major problem that impacts everything around us. In a business setting, a domino effect can happen when an employee’s performance is negatively impacted by their supervisor’s bad decision.
A domino effect can also occur when an organization’s culture isn’t aligned with its strategy or goals. For example, if a company is focused on growth but the leadership team has no experience in growing the business, the results could be disastrous. In this situation, the leaders must change their focus and align their strategies in order to thrive.
For example, if a company’s customer service isn’t up to par, the company might try to compensate for this by hiring customer-facing employees that are highly trained and have experience in other industries. However, if this strategy is not implemented correctly, it can actually backfire and cause the company to lose its customers. This is why it’s so important for companies to have clear and concise goals that are clearly communicated to their employees. This way, the company can avoid a negative domino effect in the future.