Domino Wonder of the Day: How Do You Make Intricate Domino Sets?

Domino is a small, rectangular block of material used as a gaming object. A domino can be tipped ever-so-slightly, and all the pieces in a long line will fall over, creating a beautiful display of rhythmic motion. Some people make elaborate domino art that they then put on display for others to admire. But what does it take to create these mind-blowing domino setups? In today’s Wonder of the Day, we’ll explore how Hevesh uses the laws of physics to design her intricate domino structures. Hevesh has become a domino legend, creating mind-blowing domino sets for movies, TV shows, and even a music album launch by pop star Katy Perry. Her YouTube videos of her domino creations have garnered more than 2 million views. To pull off one of her domino displays, Hevesh first considers the theme or purpose of the installation. Next, she brainstorms images or words that can be used in the setup. She then sketches a design on paper, which includes arrows to indicate the direction she wants each domino to move. Finally, she calculates how many dominos will be needed to achieve the desired effect. When Hevesh begins creating her incredible domino installations, she tests each section separately. She also films each test in slow motion, which allows her to make precise corrections when something isn’t working as intended. Once she’s satisfied that her testing has been successful, she begins constructing the domino layout. As the first domino falls, most of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy—the energy of motion. This energy is then transmitted to the next domino, giving it the push it needs to fall. The energy continues traveling from domino to domino until the entire set is in place and ready to be tipped over. The most common domino sets have 28 tiles, arranged into two suits of alternating colors (black and white). Some sets have larger numbers of tiles, allowing for more complicated games. For example, a double-nine domino set contains 55 tiles. Each domino has a number of spots or symbols on its ends, called pips. Some sets have a specific color scheme, while others have different colored pips to identify each suit. For example, a blue and white domino may have a single green and pink pips to distinguish it from other white and blue dominos in the same game. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or follow a strict outline, plotting a novel ultimately comes down to a simple question: What happens next? Considering the domino effect can help you develop a story with a satisfying ending. If you want your readers to remain invested in your work, then you must ensure that your characters’ actions have the right reactions. Think of every plot beat in your novel like a domino that falls in the right order.