Dominoes are a favorite childhood toy that can be played with in many ways. Some people like to set them up in lines and then knock them over. Others play games with them or use them to make art. The individual domino pieces are sometimes called bones, cards, tiles, stones, spinners, or tickets. They are part of a larger set of gaming pieces called a deck. The word domino is also used to describe a series of events or effects that occur one after another. Today’s Wonder of the Day is inspired by Juan who wondered, “What is the domino effect?”
Domino is the name for a series of events or effects that occur once one event has happened. The word is also used to describe a large chain reaction.
The history of domino is interesting, and the game is also an important tool for learning about math, logic, and strategy. In fact, some schools offer domino competitions as a way to encourage students to develop these skills.
Early dominoes were functionally identical to playing cards. They were developed in the 12th or 13th century, probably in China. Later, Europeans made some changes to the dominoes. They included markings on the face of each tile that are called pips. These pips were originally intended to represent the results of throwing two six-sided dice. Today, the pips on a domino are used to identify which player has a particular tile. In some games, the players draw a certain number of tiles and then place them on the table. The first player to place a tile (which is often determined by drawing lots or by who has the heaviest hand) begins the chain of play.
A domino’s effect can be much larger than we might think at first glance. University of Toronto physicist Stephen Morris demonstrated this by setting up a domino that was nearly three feet tall and weighing 100 pounds. He explained that when a domino is standing upright, it stores potential energy based on its position. When the domino falls, it transfers that energy to kinetic energy causing another domino to fall and so on.
The domino principle can be applied to business as well. For example, the former CEO of Domino’s, David Brandon, understood that if he wanted to save the company from collapse, it was necessary for him to listen to his employees. He did this by implementing new employee training programs and speaking with workers directly. By focusing on the core values of the Domino’s brand, Doyle was able to revitalize the company in a short period of time.
As a writer, you can use the concept of the domino principle in your stories to create exciting sequences that build and lead to the resolution. In a mystery story, for example, if a character uncovers a clue that seems significant but then doesn’t get enough impact in the next scene, something is missing. The scene may be at the wrong angle or not have enough logical impact to raise the tension.