A domino is a small rectangular tile marked with an arrangement of spots or “pips” that resemble those on a die. Each domino is typically the same size, so when one is tipped over it sets off a chain reaction in which other dominoes are then tipped over and so on until everything comes crashing down. The power of this phenomenon is what gives rise to the phrase, “the domino effect.”
The most common use of dominoes is for playing positional games, where players take turns placing a domino edge-to-edge with another to form some specified total or pattern. This is usually done by matching the pips on the end of one domino with those on the edge of the next to create a link. The first player to complete their link wins the game.
Other types of domino games can be played in which the object is to place a domino with an odd number of pips on the end so that it matches a specific number of pips on another piece already on the board. This type of game was often used to circumvent religious prohibitions against playing cards. Games like this also use a lot of repetition, which can help people develop hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
Dominoes are sometimes used to create art or make designs, but the majority of them are simply stacked on end in long lines to form intricate shapes. They are also popular as toys for children who can arrange them into shapes, patterns and letters.
One of the most interesting uses for dominoes is to model physics concepts. For example, dominoes can be used to demonstrate the principle of momentum. By demonstrating this with dominoes of different sizes, students can see how the force exerted on the smaller domino is multiplied by the larger number of dominoes in the same line.
Another way dominoes can be used is to illustrate a simple circuit. By connecting a battery to the bottom of a stack, and using a light sensor to control a switch, students can observe how a domino effect can be used to create a simple circuit.
Domino’s Pizza has a unique leadership structure that involves the CEO going undercover to work in their restaurants and analyze the company’s delivery service. This approach demonstrates that Domino’s values the input of its employees.
Regardless of whether the writer composes their manuscript off the cuff or takes time with an outline, plotting a novel ultimately comes down to answering one question: What happens next? Understanding the domino effect can help writers answer that question in a way that will keep readers interested. The key is to provide logic that makes the character’s actions seem reasonable, even if those actions are outside of societal norms. This is why it’s so important to carefully examine a character’s motivation before writing scenes that run counter to the reader’s expectations.