Name

Block

Date

The Domino Effect

Purpose
To investigate the ways in which distance, time, and average speed are interrelated by maximizing the
speed of falling dominoes, and to become familiar with elementary graphing techniques.

Required Equipment/Supplies
Approximately 40 dominoes
Stopwatch
Meter stick

Discussion
A central property of motion is speedthe rate at which distance is covered. By rate, we mean how much
or how many of something per unit of time: how many kilometers traveled in an hour, how many feet
moved in a second, how many raindrops hitting a roof in a minute, how much interest earned on a bank
account in a year. When we measure the speed of an automobile, we measure the speed of sound or the
speed of light, we measure the rate at which energy moves. We cannot see this energy. We can, however,
see and measure the speed of the energy pulse that makes a row of dominoes fall.

Procedure
Step 1: Calculate the average length of a domino.
Measure the length of ten dominoes by lining 10 dominoes with no space between them and
finding the average length of one domino by dividing this length by 10.
A) Length of one domino = __________ cm

Domino Length =

B) Length of 40 dominoes = __________ cm

Part A x 40

length of row
10

Step 2: Set up 40 dominoes in a straight row, with equal spacing between them. The dominoes
must be spaced at least the thickness of one domino apart. Your goal is to maximize the speed at
which a row of dominoes falls down. Set the dominoes in a way you think will give the greatest
speed.

Step 3: Measure the total length, in centimeters, of your row of 40 dominoes by measuring the
length from the beginning of the first domino to the beginning of the last one.
Length = __________ cm

Step 4: Compute the average spacing distance between dominoes by taking Step 3 Length and
subtracting the Length of 40 dominoes (Step 1 part B) , and divide the distance of the spacing
by the number of domino spaces.
Average spacing distance = __________ cm

Step 3 Step 1 B
40

Step 5: Calculate the domino spacing distance by dividing the average spacing distance (Step 4)
by the length of one domino (Step 1 A).
Domino spacing distance. = _______________ domino lengths
=

Average spacing distance between dominos (Step 4)

length of one domino (Step 1 A)

Step 6: Measure the time it takes for your row of 40 dominoes to fall down.
Time = _______________ seconds

Step 7: Calculate the average toppling speed for your row of dominoes.
Average speed = __________ cm/s

Total length of row (Step 3)

Time it takes to fall

Step 8: Repeat steps 2 through 7 for two different spacing distances. Include a spacing that is
relatively small and still produces toppling and a spacing that is relatively large and still produces
toppling. Record your data (including data for the first trial) in Data Table A.
Step 9: Exchange data with other lab groups until your data table is full of different spacing
distances and toppling speeds.

DOMINO TOPPLING INFORMATION

TRIAL

TOTAL
LENGTH
OF ROW
(Step 1 B)

AVERAGE
SPACING
(____ Domino
lengths)

TIME TO
FALL

AVERAGE
SPEED

(Step 6)

(Step 7)

(Step 5)

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
Step 10: Using the graph paper provided, record the data points on the graph and then sketch a
best fit line through for your data points.
Step 11: Identify and label the point on the curve where the speed is at its maximum and identify
and label where the speed is at its minimum (this may not be exactly at one of your data points.)

DOMINO SPACING VS. SPEED

1400

AVERAGE SPEED (cm/s)

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0.0

.50

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

4.0

4.5

5.0

SPACING (domino lengths)

Analysis
1. What is a definition of average speed?
2. What are the factors that affect the speed of falling dominoes?
3. Why do we use average speed for the pulse running down the dominoes rather than
instantaneous speed?
4. From your graph, what is the maximum and minimum toppling speed?

maximum ________

minimum _________

5. What spacing between dominoes results in the maximum and minimum speed?

maximum ________

minimum _________

6. Using your maximum toppling speed for the row of dominoes, calculate how long a row
of dominoes would have to be so that it takes one minute to fall?
4