Domino is a game in which players arrange a series of tiles, called dominoes, on a flat surface. Each domino has two ends, one with a number of spots or pips and the other blank. They are normally twice as long as they are wide, making them easy to stack and re-stack. When a domino is tipped over, it causes the adjacent dominoes to tip over, creating a line of falling tiles that can extend for several feet. Domino is a popular game for children as well as adults. Dominoes can be used to play a variety of games that can range from simple to complex.
In some games, a player’s score is determined by counting the pips at both ends of the dominoes left in his hand at the end of the hand or game. Then, he compares this total to the number of points scored by the other players. The winning player’s score is the lower of these two numbers.
Some players may use a special tile, called a spinner, which can be played on all four sides. Depending on the rules of the game, the domino played as the lead may be the only spinner for the entire game; or every double played throughout the game may be a spinner.
The word “domino” originally denoted a hooded cloak worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade, but it also referred to a piece of the garment, which was made of blacks and ivory to match the pieces of the domino set. The word has also been used to describe a long hooded cape worn by a priest over his surplice.
Most of the dominoes in a game of domino are placed on a table, with the open ends facing up. Each player then draws the number of tiles permitted according to the rules of the particular game. The first player then makes his play, which may be the set, the down, or the lead, depending on the rules of the game.
When a domino is tipped, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which is the energy that pushes the next domino over. Energy then flows to the other dominoes in the line, which also get pushed over. This continues until the last domino falls.
Domino is a great way to teach children about gravity, cause-and-effect relationships, and simple patterns. They can learn about these concepts by building an impressive display of dominoes, watching domino shows on television, or even taking part in contests that showcase the most imaginative domino effect or reaction.
A famous example of a domino effect was a 1983 demonstration by University of British Columbia physics professor Lorne Whitehead. He set up 13 dominoes, starting with the smallest, which was only 5 millimeters tall and only 1 millimeter thick (tiny enough to be held in place by a finger), and ending with a structure that was over three feet tall and weighed more than 100 pounds.
