A domino is a small rectangular block used as a gaming device. It is often used as a game in which the goal is to knock over all the dominoes on a line before your opponent. A domino can be made of many different materials, including bone, ivory, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), and dark hardwoods such as ebony. The surface of a domino is marked with dots called pips that identify its number. The number of pips on a domino is important because the number determines how long a domino chain can be played.
The word “domino” has also been used in reference to a system of government, business, or organization. For example, one famous politician compared his policies to a set of dominoes. He hoped that his actions would trigger a series of positive consequences that would lead to success. This analogy is useful because it demonstrates how even a small action can lead to much larger ones. The concept of domino is similar to the idea of a snowball effect, in which one small event creates an exponential increase in size and impact.
Domino’s is a pizza delivery company, so it makes sense that the name of the company includes the term. Domino’s is also well known for its innovative use of technology to improve efficiency and customer service. The company’s recent initiatives include purpose-built pizza-delivery vehicles, driverless robots, and delivery by drones. These technologies are not only meant to modernize Domino’s image, but they also address customers’ top complaint — slow delivery.
Another common usage of the term “domino” refers to a person who is powerful and influential. For example, a domino effect can occur when a person becomes the head of a company, church, or other organization. He or she can then direct other members and employees to follow his or her lead. The result can be a cascade of changes that affect the whole organization.
Physicist Stephen Morris explains how the domino effect works. He says that when a domino is standing upright, it has potential energy. This energy is based on the domino’s position and the force of gravity. When the domino falls, however, most of this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, or the energy of motion. To test this phenomenon, place a domino on a flat surface and carefully watch it as it moves. Then, gently touch the first domino with your finger and notice how it rapidly falls over the others. You can do this several times and record the results to learn more about the chain reaction of a domino effect.