A domino is a small flat, rectangular block that is used as a gaming object. These blocks are also referred to as bones, pieces, men, or stones and are often played with a special set of dominoes called a double-twelve (91 tiles) or double-nine (55 tiles). There are many different ways to play with dominoes; some games involve blocking an opponent’s play while others award points based on the number of dots in the exposed ends of the dominoes.
Dominoes are available in most toy stores and online. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, but the most common ones are rectangular with black and white dots that represent the numbers one through nine. A complete domino set comes with 28 to 55 of these small tiles.
Hevesh began playing with dominoes when she was 9 years old and loved the challenge of setting them up in a straight or curved line, flicking the first domino, and watching the whole chain fall. As her skill improved, she started making videos of her creations and gained a following on YouTube. Now, Hevesh is a professional domino artist, working on projects for movies, TV shows, and events such as the album launch for Katy Perry. She’s even a Guinness World Record holder for the most dominoes toppled in a circular arrangement.
When you watch Hevesh create her incredible setups, there’s a certain magic to the way they work. But the magic is actually rooted in science. The most important factor is gravity, which pulls a knocked-over domino toward the ground and sends it crashing into the next domino until it runs out of energy and falls.
The other force that works against a domino is friction, which occurs when the top of the tile slips over the bottom of the next tile. This friction generates heat and sound, which in turn convert some of the energy that was stored in the domino into potential energy for pushing the next domino over.
Hevesh’s work requires precision, and that means she needs to understand the forces that affect how dominoes move. She says that when she first starts a project, she thinks about what’s going to happen and how it will all fall together. But then she has to let go and trust that the process will unfold according to the laws of physics.
Dominoes are a great way to introduce kids to simple concepts such as geometry and force. But they’re also a wonderful way to teach them about the value of persistence and taking responsibility for their actions. The name Domino, in fact, is a reminder to always think two moves ahead and consider the consequences of your actions. And if that’s not enough, the name’s French roots also encourage a masterful sense of proportion. It’s a fitting name for a character who knows how to keep things in perspective, from the biggest battles to the little annoyances that may be piling up along the way.