You've probably seen the video. It’s one of those "wait, what?" moments that breaks the internet every few years. A line of dominoes is falling perfectly, rhythmically, with that satisfying clack-clack-clack sound we all love. Then, suddenly, one domino just... stays up. It wobbles. It looks like it’s about to tip, but it defies gravity, stays upright, and the chain continues behind it as if nothing happened. This is the dodging domino, a phenomenon that looks like a glitch in the matrix but is actually a masterclass in friction, center of mass, and the surprisingly complex physics of kinetic energy transfer.
Honestly, it’s annoying. We want things to be linear. We want the chain reaction to be perfect. But physics doesn't care about your aesthetic satisfaction.
The dodging domino isn't a ghost story or a CGI trick, though plenty of people on Reddit will swear it is. It’s a specific mechanical failure often seen in high-speed domino toppling displays, like those organized by the late Great Britain Domino Control or professional builders like Lily Hevesh (Hevesh5). When you dive into the mechanics, you realize that a domino doesn't just "fall." It rotates around a pivot point. If the forces aren't exactly right, that rotation stalls.
How the Dodging Domino Actually Works
Most people think a domino falls because the one behind it pushes it over. Simple, right? Not really. It’s actually about the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy. When the first domino is tipped, its center of mass passes over its leading edge, and gravity takes over.
But here’s where the "dodging" happens. For a domino to fall, the striking domino must impart enough momentum to move the next one's center of gravity past the tipping point.
Sometimes, the striking domino hits at a weird angle. Or maybe the surface—the floor or the table—has a microscopic bit of extra grip. If the friction at the base of the standing domino is high enough, and the impact from the previous one is "soft" (perhaps due to a slight misalignment), the standing domino absorbs the energy as a vibration rather than a rotation. It shudders. It "dodges" the fall.
The Role of Spacing
Spacing is the biggest culprit. If the gap between dominoes is too wide, the falling domino hits the next one too low. Instead of pushing it forward and down, it almost tries to push it underneath.
- Too Close: The dominoes fall too fast, and the energy can "skip" a block, leaving one standing because the arc of the fall was too shallow.
- Too Far: The falling block hits the base of the next one. It loses all its energy to the floor.
It's a delicate balance. Physicist J.M.J. van Leeuwen actually published a paper in the American Journal of Physics titled "The Dynamics of Domino Fall." He used complex equations to model the "velocity of the pulse." He found that if the friction coefficient between the dominoes and the surface isn't uniform, the "wave" of falling blocks can become unstable. That instability is exactly what creates the dodging domino.
📖 Related: How Many Moons Does Earth Have? Why the Answer Is Kinda Complicated
Why Does the Chain Keep Going?
This is the part that trips people up. If one domino stays up, how does the one after it fall?
Usually, it's because the "dodger" isn't the only thing moving. In a dense setup, the domino before the dodger might have enough lean or width to strike the domino after the dodger. Or, more commonly, the air displacement and the vibration of the surface provide just enough of a nudge. Sometimes, the falling domino that was supposed to hit the dodger actually slides past it or over its shoulder, striking the next one in line.
It looks like magic. It’s actually just messy geometry.
I’ve seen this happen in person at domino competitions. The builders get incredibly frustrated. They call it a "hang." It’s the nightmare of a 100,000-piece build. One hang can ruin a whole section, but a "dodger" is a rare fluke where the chain survives despite the failure.
Misconceptions About the Dodging Domino
Let’s clear some things up because the internet loves a good conspiracy.
- It’s not magnets. While some trick shots use magnets, the classic dodging domino videos are usually just raw physics. Magnets would actually make the fall more predictable, not less.
- It’s not "anti-gravity." Every object in that chain is subject to $9.8 m/s^2$. The "dodge" is just a momentary equilibrium where the forces of gravity, friction, and impact cancel each other out perfectly.
- It’s not always a mistake. Some professional domino artists actually try to recreate the dodge as a "stunt," though it’s nearly impossible to do reliably. It requires a surface with variable friction—like a tiny patch of sandpaper.
The Technical Side: Friction and Torque
To get technical for a second, we have to look at the torque applied to the standing domino.
💡 You might also like: Marie Curie: What Most People Get Wrong About the First Female to Win a Nobel Prize
The formula for torque is $\tau = rF \sin(\theta)$. In this scenario, $r$ is the distance from the pivot (the bottom corner of the domino) to the point of impact. If $F$ (the force from the falling domino) is applied too low, the value of $r$ is small. Small $r$ means small torque. If that torque isn't enough to overcome the weight of the domino, it stays upright.
Basically, the falling domino "kicked" the standing one in the shins instead of pushing it in the chest.
Lessons for Content Creators and Hobbyists
If you're trying to film a domino run and want to avoid (or catch) a dodging domino, you need to be obsessed with your surface.
Don't use glass. It’s too slippery. The bottoms of the dominoes will slide out from under them before they can tip. This is called a "slip-out," and it’s the cousin of the dodge. Use a textured wooden board or a specialized plastic mat.
Also, check your dominoes for "flashing." That’s the little bit of leftover plastic from the molding process. A tiny bump on the bottom of a domino can change its center of gravity just enough to make it a candidate for a dodge.
Actionable Tips for a Perfect Run
- Check the Level: Use a spirit level on your table. A 1-degree tilt is enough to make gravity work against the chain reaction.
- Standardize Spacing: Use a "spacer" tool. Eyeballing it is how you end up with "the dodging domino."
- Control the Environment: Air conditioning vents can actually blow over lightweight plastic dominoes or, conversely, provide enough resistance to a falling one to cause a hang.
- Slow-Motion Review: If you catch a dodge on camera, watch it at 120fps or higher. You'll see the standing domino vibrate. That vibration is the energy that should have been a fall being dissipated as heat and sound.
The dodging domino is a reminder that even in a world of precise engineering, there is room for the unexpected. It’s a tiny, plastic rebellion against the laws of motion. Next time you see a chain reaction, don't just look at the ones that fall. Look at the one that refused to move. That’s where the real science is.
To get started with your own builds, focus on the "1.5 rule"—place each domino approximately 1.5 times its thickness apart. This maximizes the transfer of torque while minimizing the risk of a "base-hit" that leads to a dodge. Experiment with different surfaces like polished wood versus felt to see how friction changes the "wave" speed of your topple.