Wonder of the Day: Domino

Domino is a game that many people enjoy playing as children and even as adults. It is a series of black and white rectangles that can be arranged in a line to form patterns or even 3D structures. Sometimes, people even compete in domino shows where they build impressive sets of hundreds or thousands of dominoes that eventually come toppling with the nudge of only one. Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Juan who wondered, “What is the domino effect?”

The word “domino” comes from a Latin phrase meaning to lead. When you play domino, each player draws seven tiles from a stock or boneyard. These tiles are then placed on-edge in front of them. Each player then places their domino in a row that is adjacent to the other players’ pieces. The first player to match all of their tiles wins the round. The game can be played with any number of players, but most commonly it is for two.

Besides playing domino, you can also use the dominoes to create art or set up a display. Creating domino art is simple and can be as complex as you want it to be. The process begins by considering the theme or purpose of your domino art. Next, you brainstorm images or words that might relate to that topic. Once you’ve finished brainstorming, you can begin to plan out your design. Some domino artists create straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or stacked walls.

In fiction, the domino effect occurs when a single event triggers multiple reactions. This type of effect is often used in a story to advance the plot or develop character. For example, if a student makes a poor grade on a test, that student will likely feel discouraged and may have trouble studying for future tests. The student’s failure to study for future exams could ultimately lead to failure in school and a lack of career opportunities.

Domino’s pizza founder, Tom Monaghan, was a master at using the domino effect to his advantage. He emphasized opening pizzerias near college campuses where his core audience would be present. This allowed him to attract a large number of customers and quickly build a business.

In addition to being an effective strategy for a business, the domino effect can be used in a narrative to create a sense of tension and suspense. This is done by introducing an element that seems insignificant at the time but will have a larger impact later on in the narrative. For example, a domino action could be an important character’s decision to make his bed in the morning. By itself, this decision might not be that significant, but it would have a huge influence on the subsequent actions of the main character in the story.