A domino is a small, flat rectangular block used as a game playing object. They are usually made of wood, plastic, or bone. Typically, they have a line down their middle and two square ends with numbers called “pips” showing on each one.
The goal of the game is to score points by laying down tiles end to end that have matching numbers on them. These numbers are sometimes referred to as “pips,” although they may also be written in other readable Arabic numerals.
Depending on the size of the set, the pips can vary from one to six on each end. These can be a variety of different colors, designs, or symbols.
Dominoes are a type of gambling game played with a collection of shuffled dominoes called a “boneyard.” Before the players begin to play, all the dominoes are shuffled and placed face-down on the table.
Once the dominoes have been shuffled, the players draw out their dominoes one at a time and place them on the edge of the table. They then take turns choosing a domino to play with. If the player cannot find a tile that has a value that matches the one they are currently holding, they must draw another domino from the boneyard and play it with their current tiles.
The player who lays down the tile with the highest value wins the game. The number of pips on the tile is the value of that domino.
If a domino has two matching numbers, then the other player must play a tile that has a number that is equal to or less than the number of pips on the first tile. Alternatively, the player may choose to play a tile that has the number of pips that is greater than the number of pips on the second tile.
In addition to traditional games, some people have also turned dominoes into a form of art. They can be stacked on top of each other in long lines to form complex designs.
When a domino falls, much of its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, the energy of motion (see Converting Energy). Some of that energy is transmitted to the next domino, which helps it fall.
Those who work on their personal development often use the concept of dominoes to describe how they can achieve their goals and dreams by finding the first small step that will help them progress to larger, more challenging goals. When they see their progress, they are motivated to continue moving forward.
This concept is sometimes called the domino effect and can be a useful mental model to keep in mind as you think about your next big project or goal. It can be easy to get caught up in the “flash in the pan” syndrome, which can lead to the early demise of many projects.
The Domino Effect is a simple but powerful way to achieve your personal goals. It capitalizes on the fact that when we commit to something, even in a very small way, we’re more likely to stick with it because we see ourselves as aligned with that commitment.