Domino effect

A domino effect or chain reaction is the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events.^[1] The term is best known as a mechanical effect and is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes. It typically refers to a linked sequence of events where the time between successive events is relatively small. It can be used literally (an observed series of actual collisions) or metaphorically (causal linkages within systems such as global finance or politics). The term domino effect is used both to imply that an event is inevitable or highly likely (as it has already started to happen), and conversely to imply that an event is impossible or highly unlikely (the one domino left standing).

Demonstration of the effect

The domino effect can easily be visualized by placing a row of dominoes upright, separated by a small distance. Upon pushing the first domino, the next domino in line will be knocked over, and so on, thus firing a linear chain in which each domino's fall is triggered by the domino immediately preceding it. The effect is the same regardless of the length of the chain. The energy used in this chain reaction is the potential energy of the dominoes due to them being in a metastable state; when the first domino is toppled, the energy transferred by the fall is greater than the energy needed to knock over the following domino, and so on.

The domino effect is exploited in Rube Goldberg machines.

Examples

World War II lead to the creation of manga and anime.

In August 9^th 1945, during the second world war, two atomic bombs, named “Fat Man” and “Little Boy”, were dropped onto both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the bombings, Japan was under the negative effects of an economical depression, with many citizens being poor and unable to afford food. That was until in 1952, Osamu Tezuka, Japanese manga artist and cartoonist, created a comic named Diary of Ma-Chan to entertain the Japanese public in the means of helping it cope through poor conditions.

He sold his comics at a low price so that people would buy them so. Many years later after people recovered from the emotional complications from the economical depression, many similar comics were created, thus leading to the rise of manga and anime and it’s cultural fanbase.

Appearances in media

Domino Day – world record attempt for the highest number of toppling domino stones.

References

^ "domino effect". The Free Dictionary. Farlex, Inc. Retrieved 29 September 2014.