Exponential Functions - The domino effect

Question

PART 2 – Exponential Functions – The Domino Effect

The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then causes another similar change, and so on.

Watch the video attached to the assignment - titled Domino Effect.

LINK TO VIDEO: https://youtu.be/YXn08b5Illo

After watching the video, determine the answers to the following: If you wanted to topple over a domino the size of a skyscraper, how many dominos would you need?

Here is a guide to help structure your thinking:

● State the independent and dependent variables (What are the unknowns? What are you looking for?)

● Make a prediction (What is a number that is too high? What is a number that is too low?)

● What information do you need? Which skyscraper did you choose? What’s the height of this skyscraper? (Here is a link you may use to help you find the height of a tall Skyscraper http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=28045044)

● Create a table/diagram/graph to help organize your data.

● Use your variables to determine an equation that would best model the data.

● Use an equation to help solve the problem and make a list of the assumptions you have made.

● Analyze your results and comment on the reasonableness of your answer.

Answer 1

Hi Aya A., this is a fascinating assignment. Major unknowns (well, variables) include the geometry of the objects (a pillbox domino won't topple anything, a stilt-shaped domino will practically topple over on its own!), the separation between the domino facing-faces, and various other things such as, does the target domino have forces beyond gravity, such as a rooted foundation, to rely on? Also, the "how many dominos" part is weird -- a single domino knocks over another single domino, or else a string of them (which you might think could knock harder?) would never get started! Worse than that, once multiple dominos are pushing in a string -- the frictional forces between the blocks get rapidly incalculable. A better problem might be, how high (maximum) would a domino string lie after getting knocked over, as a function of domino height, width, and spacing? If your teacher would be interested in seeing that problem and its solution, email me directly at [email protected] .

-- Cheers, --Mr. d.