The domino effect is a phenomenon whereby a single event can trigger a chain reaction, each step of which builds upon the preceding ones. While the term is generally used to describe a series of events, it can also be applied to an individual action. A common example is an unexpected job promotion, which can lead to a new career path, a marriage, or a move. Other examples include the way that one small change can have a big impact, as shown by the “domino effect” of Jennifer Dukes Lee, who began making her bed every day and then started changing other habits, including keeping her house clean.
A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block, thumbsized, with one side bearing from one to six pips (or dots) in an arrangement similar to those on dice. A complete set of dominoes (also called domino pieces or dominos) has 28 such blocks. Dominoes are played in a variety of games, most of which involve a player emptying his or her hand while blocking the play of opponents. The games are often based on card-game rules and may have been devised to circumvent religious prohibitions against playing cards.
One of the most popular ways to use a domino is in a game of chicken foot or Mexican train, where the goal is to score points by placing tiles in rows on either side of a line or board that is then flipped over. But the most interesting use of a domino is to create art. Domino art can be as simple or elaborate as the artist chooses. It can be straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures like towers or pyramids. Artists can use their imagination to come up with designs and then figure out how many dominoes they will need to construct them.
Domino art is an excellent way to exercise the brain and improve motor skills, as well as encourage children to explore their creativity. It is a good idea to test the movement of a domino before beginning a design, however, as each domino will fall at a slightly different rate. This is especially true if you are using an old, worn domino.
When creating a domino art piece, it is helpful to first make a drawing of the track or structure that will be constructed. This can be done on a piece of paper or directly on the dominoes themselves. Then, begin placing the dominoes on the track, ensuring that they are all lined up correctly and that there is room for the domino to fall without hitting any other dominoes or touching other structures.
After a few trials, the domino should begin to fall. Once it has fallen, continue putting dominoes on the track in an ordered fashion, adding more and more dominoes until the desired pattern is complete. If you are creating a large design, it can be helpful to have someone else help supervise the process so that everyone can stay on track and avoid mistakes or mishaps.