What is a Domino?
A domino is a small rectangular block used as a gaming piece or for building structures. It has a value on both ends, which may be either blank, marked with pips (small dots resembling those on dice) or numbered. The numbered ends are typically “heavier” than the blank ones. Dominos are normally twice as long as they are wide, making them easier to stack after use. They are also often slightly larger than poker chips. Dominoes can be made from various materials, but they are most commonly constructed from polymer clay or plastic. They can be purchased pre-made, or they can be assembled from kits.
The most common use for a domino is in playing games. Many of these are scoring games, where players compete to be the first to run out all their tiles. The player with the most points after a specified number of rounds wins the game. The game also helps to develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Hevesh is known for her mind-blowing domino setups, and she uses a version of the engineering design process to create them. She begins by considering a theme or purpose for an installation, brainstorming images or words that might inspire her. She then starts by creating a prototype for each section of the structure. She tests each section individually, and then she assembles them into the final set.
Each domino has a potential energy, or stored energy based on its position, that is released when it falls over. As the first domino falls, much of this potential energy converts to kinetic energy, or the energy of motion. Some of this kinetic energy is transmitted to the next domino, providing the push needed to knock it over as well. The energy continues to travel from one domino to the next, causing them all to fall over in a chain reaction.
Dominoes can be made from many different materials, including metals (e.g. brass or pewter), ceramic clay, and glass. Historically, they were crafted from natural materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or dark woods such as ebony. Sets of dominoes crafted from these materials can have a more traditional look and feel, and can be significantly more expensive than sets made from polymer clay or synthetic materials.
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