The word domino describes a small, flat, rectangular block used as a gaming object. It can be played with a variety of rules and scoring systems, and can be found in many forms, including paper, plastic, and wood. A domino set typically includes all the pieces needed to play the game, including doubles and triples for specialized games.
Dominoes are often shown in shows where domino builders compete to create complex and imaginative domino setups before a live audience of fans. The physics behind the displays is fascinating. Hevesh Morris, a professional domino artist with more than 2 million YouTube subscribers, explains that the first domino in the lineup has inertia, which means it resists motion when no force is pushing or pulling on it. However, just a tiny nudge can push it past its tipping point, where it will take on the momentum of gravity and fall over.
Once that domino falls, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which will then push on the next domino in the line-up. And so on, until the last domino reaches its tipping point and falls. The entire process can take several nail-biting minutes, and the end result is thrilling to watch.
The same principle applies when writing a story. Whether you plot your novel off the cuff or plan it out using a detailed outline, you can use the concept of the domino effect to guide your work. Think of each scene in your story as a domino. Every domino, regardless of its size or importance, plays a role in the larger story.
Domino is a generic term for all types of gaming objects, and the word’s name probably stems from the Italian noun domini, meaning “flip.” It’s also been suggested that the word might have come from Latin dominum, meaning a long, hooded cloak worn over a mask, or from French, where it originally denoted a garment that contrasted with a priest’s white surplice.
In addition to the traditional blocking and scoring games, domino can be used to construct elaborate structures such as arches or towers. And there are even more inventive ways that domino can be used to entertain, such as building intricately shaped sculptures and arranging them into mind-blowing arrangements that take hours or even days to complete.