Modeling the Dynamics of Chalk: Methods for Efficient Approximation

The modeling of various materials is often a refined process, wherein a combination of actual physical properties and visual shortcuts are used to achieve an accurate rendition. Solids can be modeled with varying rigidity and elasticity; Liquids can be modeled with varying viscosity; Even gases and particle fields can be represented with varying densities. Often, rigid solids must be able to support permanent deformation—for some materials, denting is sufficient. For many others, breakage must be considered. We find an interesting case to be those materials that are constantly crumbling on a small scale. Blackboard chalk is one such material, wherein its use relies on a perpetual breaking off of particles to mark another surface. In this paper, we will be discussing efficient and inexpensive approximation methods to accurately model the behavior of Chalk under normal circumstances.