Chain reaction: falling dominoes
A ball pushes the first domino and a wave of falling runs through the whole row. An energy and chain reaction experiment for kids 5+.
2D
Age 5+10 min
Momentum & collisionsStability
Loading simulation…
Press “Run”. Bodies move by the laws of physics: gravity, friction, elasticity.
What the experiment shows
Twelve dominoes stand in a row. A slow ball nudges the first one, which falls on the second, and so on.
How to run it
- Press “Run” and follow the wave.
- In the editor increase the spacing — at what distance does the chain break?
- Add an extra domino or a gap and see if the wave still reaches the end.
Questions to discuss
- Where do the dominoes get their energy if only the first one was pushed?
- What is faster: the wave or a single domino’s fall?
The science
A standing domino stores potential energy: its center of mass is high. Falling, it hands energy to the next one. The wave speed depends on the spacing and the height.
Try it at home
Line up books, boxes or real dominoes. Test which spacing lets the whole chain fall.
What to change in the editor
- Make the last domino heavier.
- Build a second chain at a different angle.