When we think of domino, we might think of those mind-blowing setups that involve lining up several dominoes in a straight or curved line and then flicking the first one, causing all the others to fall in a cascade. But did you know that the way these pieces fall is actually a model for how nerve cells function? Today’s Wonder of the Day explains how.
Domino
Also known as bones, cards, men or tiles, dominoes are rectangular-shaped and typically twice as long as they are wide. Each has an identifying mark, such as an arrangement of dots (sometimes called pips) on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other. The number of pips on a domino determines its value; a domino with more pips is generally considered “heavier” than a domino with fewer or no pips.
While most dominoes are used for playing games, they can also be used as a learning tool to help students understand and practice basic math skills. For example, some teachers use them to demonstrate how addition and subtraction work by setting up a chain of dominoes that add or subtract in the correct order. Others use them to demonstrate multiplication and division by placing multiple dominoes on top of each other in a row and then systematically adding or subtracting the values on individual dominoes.
Most dominoes are used for playing positional games, in which each player takes turns placing a domino edge to edge against another domino with matching values on both sides. The resulting total is then scored. For example, in the game 5s and 3s, one point is scored every time a domino of either type can be placed such that its end value is divisible by five or three.
Dominoes are also often used to illustrate simple principles of physics and engineering. For example, the speed at which a domino falls depends on its distance from the last tile in its row and the force exerted on each of its edges. The farther the domino is from its row, the slower it will fall.
For more complex demonstrations of these principles, Hevesh uses dominoes to build rainbow spirals or other shapes and then measures the velocity at which the pieces fall. She has found that the faster a domino falls, the more energy is transmitted to the next domino in the row, giving it the push it needs to tumble over.
Like Hevesh, a lot of us love to watch those domino rallies where we can’t help but marvel at the beautiful rhythm of the way each domino cascades down the line. When we create scenes in our novels, we can use the Domino Effect to make sure our stories flow in a logical and compelling manner. Whether you’re a pantser or a plotter, using the domino image as a model can help you avoid scenes that don’t logically connect with those that come before them or don’t generate enough tension to keep readers engaged.