Domino is a popular game in which players place domino pieces on the table so that they touch one another. The pieces have identifying marks on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. When a domino is set down, it begins a chain reaction in which the pieces fall one after another until they are all finished. The effect is reminiscent of the way a nerve impulse travels down an axon.
Dominoes are a good way to practice physics and get a feel for how energy is transferred. To start, lay out a long row of dominoes. Barely touch the first one with your finger, then move it slowly forward. Repeat this several times, increasing the amount of pressure you apply with each test. Note how the dominoes react to your movement, and try to predict what will happen when you change the direction of the force applied.
The word domino is often used to refer to the entire set of rules for a particular game, but it is also the name of a type of tile. The tiles, called “dominoes,” have a number of spots, or pips, on one face and are blank or identically patterned on another. The pips on the top surface of the domino give the piece its identity, while the pips on the bottom are used to mark how the domino should be positioned when it is placed on the table.
Physicist Stephen Morris explains that when a domino is standing upright, it has potential energy. As the domino falls, that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which causes the next domino to fall.
When a player sets his or her first domino, the other players must decide where to seat themselves at the table. The player who draws the heaviest domino, or the highest double, has the first choice of seats. The player who sits next to the heaviest double has second choice, and so on. If a tie occurs, it is broken by drawing new dominoes from the stock.
If the player has a high double, he or she may choose to play it immediately. This is known as making the lead. The lead can be played onto any other double or on a single domino if the next play requires it. This is a rule variation that some players agree to employ, but it should not be forced on the other players.
Using the domino analogy in your writing can help you make your scenes more logical. For example, if your hero does something immoral, such as shooting a stranger, you need to provide readers with sufficient motivation and logic to allow them to either give the action a pass or keep liking your character. The same applies to any scene that runs against societal norms. The key is to get the dominoes in a row so that your story builds and builds, with no hiccups in logic.
