Domino is a game of chance where you lay down tiles and try to match them to other ones. It can be played by two people or more and is popular among children.

A domino (also known as a tile, bone, card, man, spinner or ticket) is a rectangular piece of wood with one end exposed and the other end closed. It is usually twice as long as it is wide and can be used in a variety of games. The ends are marked with a line to help you know which side is which.

There are several variations of the domino, including double-six and blank-six versions. The most common variant of the domino is double-six, in which each tile has six pips on one side and none on the other. The goal of the game is to collect the largest number of pairs, which are formed by matching a domino with one that also has six pips on either side.

In addition to the pips on each side, the domino also has a line in the middle. The line divides the domino into two squares, called ends, with each end having a number of pips.

The value of the pips on each end is the number of points that are awarded for laying down a domino with a matching pair. In some versions of the game, blank-six dominoes are allowed to form pairs but only if both sides have the same number of pips. In other variations, blank-six dominoes can form pairs with double-six dominoes but not other kinds of dominoes.

Each laying of a domino starts a chain reaction that travels down the line. As the first domino falls, its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, which moves it toward Earth and provides the force that knocks the domino over.

Some of that kinetic energy is sent back along the chain to the next domino, providing an additional push. This process continues until the last domino is knocked over.

It takes a lot of energy for a domino to fall, but it’s not as complicated as you might think. The physical process is pretty simple, according to Hevesh, who has designed mind-blowing installations involving hundreds of thousands of dominoes.

She begins her designs with a version of the engineering-design process, in which she considers a theme or purpose and brainstorms images and words that would fit.

Once she has an idea, she goes to work. She uses a variety of tools, including a drill press, radial arm saw, scroll saw, belt sander and welder.

In her garage, Hevesh uses an assortment of equipment to create her incredible domino designs. She follows a standard set of engineering principles, such as designing the setup in stages and testing it to ensure that it works properly.

Her biggest projects are typically time-consuming to make, but the process is worth it once they fall down. She says that gravity is the most important factor in her spectacular domino creations, as it pulls a domino’s weight toward Earth, sending it flying into the next domino and setting off a chain reaction.