Dominoes are a set of flat pieces, each rectangular in shape and marked with an arrangement of dots called pips. There are many different games that can be played with a domino set, but most involve positioning one piece edge-to-edge against another so that their adjacent sides match in number of pips or form some other value. Some types of domino are glued together, while others are made of wood or other natural materials such as marble, and can be re-stacked after use.
The word “domino” is also used to refer to the chain of pizza restaurants by the same name. Domino’s is renowned for its delivery services and is one of the few large US-based chains to offer online ordering and tracking for its customers.
A traditional Western domino set is composed of 28 unique pieces, each with an identifiable end — the side that faces outward and away from other dominoes — and a blank or patterned face. The spots on each end range from zero to six, identical to the pattern on a standard dice. A piece that has a value of six on both ends is called a double-six, while a domino with two sixes and no other marks is referred to as a crown.
Dominoes can be made from a wide variety of materials, including polymer (a type of plastic); bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (“mother of pearl”) or ivory; other types of wood such as hickory, oak and maple; or a dark hardwood such as ebony. More expensive sets are usually made from natural materials and have a heavier weight.
The domino pieces are normally twice as long as they are wide, and the edges are rounded so that they can slide against each other easily. They may be curved or smooth or have a surface of various kinds, and they are often painted or inlaid with colored pips. In some countries, dominoes are made of marble, granite or soapstone and have a more elegant look.
Stephen Morris, a physicist at the University of Toronto, says that when a domino stands upright and doesn’t fall, it has potential energy, or stored energy based on its position. But a tiny nudge is enough to convert this energy into kinetic energy, which allows the rest of the dominoes to topple.
In life, domino actions are small victories that have a big impact. The more domino actions you have, the better. They’re high leverage actions that serve as triggers for a series of follow-up tasks. They’re like the domino effect of making your bed every morning, which creates waves that make you feel more productive, positive and motivated throughout the day. These are the kind of actions that you want to incorporate into your daily routine. They’re not necessarily easy, but they are effective. The key to success is to start with a small, manageable task and then build from there. For example, starting your day with a domino action like making your bed is more likely to lead to other positive behaviors such as exercising, completing work projects and tackling other challenges.
