Domino is a generic game piece that can be used in a wide variety of games. Like playing cards or dice, dominoes have identifying marks on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. Unlike dice, however, which have dots or numerals, most dominoes have a specific pattern of squares, called pips, that indicate their value. These pips are usually colored black, white, or both. The most common domino sets are double-6, double-9, and double-12, although many newer games can be played with smaller or larger sets.
The most popular games in which dominoes are used involve blocking or scoring points. The most common way to play these is by placing the dominoes edge-to-edge on the table so that adjacent dominoes match in number (i.e., 5 to 5, 6 to 6, or 9 to 9) or in total value (i.e., a given number in the doubles or the highest total in the set).
Another popular use of dominoes is for domino art, which can be as simple or elaborate as the artist chooses. Straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and 3D structures such as towers and pyramids can all be made using dominoes. Some artists create complex designs that can take days to complete, while others create single tiles that can be arranged to show different shapes and colors.
Dominos can be used to build beautiful works of art, such as the rainbow spiral pictured above. The artist who created this spiral, Lily Hevesh, used over 12,000 dominoes to create it. Hevesh started playing with dominoes as a child, and she was fascinated by the way that a single domino could tip over a whole line of them. This led her to study how force, speed, and distance affected the way a domino fell.
The key lesson that Hevesh learned was that it wasn’t about the domino itself, but what happened next. When a domino is tipped over, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy and is transmitted to the next domino in the line. This gives it the push needed to cause it to fall as well. Hevesh applies this same principle when creating her mind-blowing domino setups. For example, when planning a domino art track, she starts by considering the theme of the track. She then brainstorms images and words that can fit with this theme. Finally, she calculates how many dominoes will be required to accomplish the desired design. This allows her to plan the layout in advance and ensure that it will be completed within a reasonable time frame. By doing this, she can avoid any surprises during the assembly process that might slow down or prevent the creation of the intended art. This also helps her keep the cost of each domino low. This is especially important for her, since she sells her designs online and at public events. As a result, her profits are growing.
