Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Article

Models for Models: An Introduction to Polymer Models Employing Simple Analogies

Your current credentials do not allow retrieval of the full text.

Purchase the full-text

PDF/HTML,
figures/images,
references and tables,
(where available)

M. Pilar Tarazona and Enrique Saiz

Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Física, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, SPAIN

J. Chem. Educ., 1998, 75 (11), p 1425

DOI: 10.1021/ed075p1425

Publication Date (Web): November 1, 1998

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

An introduction to the most common models used in the calculations of conformational properties of polymers, ranging from the freely jointed chain approximation to Monte Carlo or molecular dynamics methods, is presented. Mathematical formalism is avoided and simple analogies, such as human chains, gases, opinion polls, or marketing strategies, are used to explain the different models presented. A second goal of the paper is to teach students how models required for the interpretation of a system can be elaborated, starting with the simplest model and introducing successive improvements until the refinements become so sophisticated that it is much better to use an alternative approach.