Domino is a fun toy for children, but it’s also a great tool for learning. It’s the basis for a game that many people play in schools, and even for business. It’s a good way to practice problem-solving skills. And it’s a fun way to work on math, too!
The first domino piece is tipped ever-so-slightly, and the rest cascade in a rhythmic movement. The joy of one small move impacting the whole is mesmerizing. This is the same effect that happens in the classroom when a student compensates for a learning challenge. The compensation becomes the new normal, and it impacts the ability to learn basic skills. The “domino effect” can have devastating effects on a student’s learning, especially over time.
A domino set contains 28 tiles that are arranged in two suits, each with five identically patterned faces and one blank face. Each suit has seven squares with a specific arrangement of dots, similar to those on a die. One square is marked with a number, and each number has a different color on the other side. A player scores points by putting a domino tile on the ends of those already placed so that the sum of all four end tiles is divisible by either five or three. The most common sets are double six and double nine.
In addition to playing games, some people use dominoes to create artistic arrangements. These can be simple lines or complex 3-D structures. They can be made in straight or curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, stacked walls, and other creative configurations. Some artists even make domino art in the shapes of buildings and other landscapes.
Today’s Wonder of the Day is thanks to Juan who wonders, “What is the domino effect?”
When a domino falls, it converts some of its potential energy to kinetic energy, which gives the next domino the push it needs to knock over the rest. This process continues, with each domino pushing the next, until all are down.
The word domino and the toy itself have an interesting history. The term was actually first used in English around 1750, while the domino toy probably originated in France sometime after that. The French word domino was borrowed from the Latin verb “dominare,” meaning to dominate or control.
The power of the domino effect is greater than many people realize. In a 1983 study, University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead demonstrated that a single domino can actually knock down items about one-and-a-half times its size! That’s why Hevesh makes test versions of each section of a domino display before she puts it together. This allows her to correct any problems with the design before it’s finished. She starts with the biggest 3-D sections, then adds flat arrangements and finally the lines that connect them all together. She also videotapes the tests, so that she can review them later and see if any corrections need to be made.