Dominoes are a type of gaming piece consisting of small rectangular blocks, each with a number of spots, or pips. They are used to play a variety of games that involve knocking over a line of dominoes in sequence. A domino has potential energy, meaning that if it is set up correctly, it can fall over and trigger a chain reaction. Dominoes can be arranged in many different ways, from a simple straight line to a complex pattern. Some people like to play with the pieces by lining them up in long rows and then knocking them over. Others enjoy constructing intricate designs out of the black and white rectangles.

A person who builds a domino structure is called a domino artist. One such artist is Hevesh, who has created mind-blowing installations using dominoes. To create her elaborate constructions, Hevesh relies on a few basic principles of science.

First, she carefully tests each section of her layout. She explains that she makes test versions of each part of the domino arrangement to make sure it works correctly before putting the sections together. She then films the tests in slow motion to identify any problems. She also uses a computer program to simulate an ideal layout before she starts assembling the dominoes.

Hevesh’s creations use many of the same principles of physics that govern how dominoes work. She says that the most important factor is gravity, which pulls a falling domino toward the ground and into contact with the next tile in the row. Hevesh explains that this contact is crucial to creating an effective domino effect, because it converts a domino’s potential energy into kinetic energy, or the energy of movement. This kinetic energy pushes the next domino over, and so on, until the last domino falls.

Another interesting aspect of a domino effect is that the speed at which it occurs depends on how much energy is put into each piece. Hevesh says that if she applies too much force to a domino, it will move faster than if she applied less force. This is a good way to think about how to pace a story, she adds. She recommends balancing high-action scenes with softer moments of reflection or internal processing, known as sequel.

The word “domino” itself derives from a Latin phrase meaning “falling forward.” This reflects the characteristic of a domino when it is tipped over. The word was probably coined in the early 18th century. It had earlier meant a hooded cloak worn with a mask at a carnival or masquerade party.

Most traditional domino sets consist of 28 tiles. The largest are “double nine” sets, which contain 55 pieces. Larger sets are available, but they require more complicated rules. These large sets have more ends, so that each end can have a different number of pips. This allows for a greater variety of games. Some of the most popular domino games are block games, where each player takes turns placing a domino, and layout games, in which players place dominoes in a pattern to achieve a specific goal.