A domino is a small rectangular wooden or plastic block with one or more faces marked by dots resembling those on dice. It is used as a playing piece in various games. Most domino sets are sold with 28 tiles, and they may be used in games that involve positioning the pieces edge to edge against each other or in rows of some specified number. There are also larger sets with many more tiles, which can be used for long-line arrangements or in a special type of scoring game.
When a person or thing has the power to influence others, that effect is called a domino. A person whose actions or words can cause others to act in certain ways is known as a domino master or king. In the past, some of these masters were considered a threat to peace because they could control whole regions with their military might. The term domino has also come to refer to a country that is expected to react to events in other countries according to the principles of a certain theory of international relations.
Domino artist Hevesh creates breathtaking domino displays that boggle the mind. Her largest creations take several nail-biting minutes to fall. Hevesh says that while there are countless factors to consider when creating a domino setup, the most important factor is gravity. This force pulls each knocked-over domino toward the ground, bringing it crashing into the next and setting off a chain reaction.
Whether Hevesh is creating a 3-D arrangement of hundreds or thousands of dominoes, she always tests the parts of an installation before assembling it. By filming the test runs in slow motion, she can make precise corrections to ensure that each section of the design will work as intended. This careful preparation helps her to achieve a perfect result with each set, which often takes days or even weeks to complete.
Hevesh has also worked with teams to create massive dominoes, including one that is the current Guinness World Record holder for the most dominoes in a circular arrangement: 76,017. She says that while the most important factor is the power of gravity, she must still carefully plan each part of a domino display to maximize its visual impact.
For example, Hevesh plans to add more rings to her current record-breaking domino design. This will allow her to create an even larger symmetrical pattern and increase the total number of dominoes that she can set in motion at once. She also works with a team of engineers to test each element of the design to ensure that the entire arrangement will work as intended.
If you’re a writer who uses outlines to plot your novel, the domino image is an excellent one to keep in mind when thinking about the logical order of scenes in your story. If a scene doesn’t have enough impact on the one that comes before it, you might find that your readers aren’t fully engaged with your story.