Dominoes are a popular toy for children, but they can also be used for artistic and engineering purposes. A YouTuber known as Hevesh has built a large following on the site by creating spectacular domino creations. Dominoes can be arranged into straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Hevesh uses the same techniques to create these designs as she would in a woodworking workshop.
When creating her domino art, Hevesh first plans out the desired design on paper. Her drawings are incredibly detailed, including the exact placement of each domino. This allows her to visualize the finished piece before it is built and makes the process much smoother. Her plans often include arrows to indicate the direction in which each domino will fall. This helps the next domino stay on the right track when it is being played, and prevents the chain from becoming tangled.
She then gathers her supplies and begins working. Her workspace is small, and she crams her tools into the limited space. A drill press, radial arm saw, scroll saw, and belt sander all take up residence in her garage. However, despite the crowded work area, Hevesh has a knack for using her tools with precision and accuracy to produce intricate domino sculptures.
The word domino is derived from the Latin dominium, meaning “flip.” A domino is similar to a playing card or dice in that it is marked with an arrangement of dots, or pips, on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. The pips represent the values of each side; the higher the value, the more likely a domino is to be laid successfully.
Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide. This length gives the domino a characteristic shape and makes it easier to fit the pieces together. The pieces are stacked so that each has its two matching ends touching fully. When a new tile is placed, it must be aligned with one of these ends so that the pips on both sides match. The matching ends may be adjacent, opposite each other, or cross-ways; they are not allowed to be adjacent and overlapping.
Hevesh’s dominoes are not only beautiful, but they are a testament to the power of inertia. Thousands of dominoes stand unmoving until she nudges them with her finger or the edge of her hand. Then, the potential energy that was stored in the domino is converted into friction and heat, as each domino pushes on its neighbors.
Dominoes are a classic game that can be played by a single player or with partners. A pair of players can play against each other by taking turns laying dominoes on the table. Eventually, the dominoes can be arranged in a line or in a matrix so that they can all be flipped over at once. When a player is unable to play a domino, he or she “knocks” the table and passes play to the other partner.