Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
10:53
Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture
Published on: July 4, 2011
13.9K
The shape of pinned forced polymer loops
Wenwen Huang1, Vasily Zaburdaev
1Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Str. 38, D-01187 Dresden, Germany. vzaburd@pks.mpg.de.
Soft Matter
|February 13, 2019
Summary
We developed a theory to analyze polymer loop shapes under external forces. The polymer loop
Area of Science:
- Polymer Physics
- Soft Matter Physics
- Theoretical Chemistry
Background:
- Polymer loops are fundamental structures in both synthetic and biological systems.
- Understanding their conformational properties under external fields is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an analytical theory for characterizing polymer loop shapes under an external force field.
- To provide methods for calculating polymer density, gyration radius, and their distributions.
Main Methods:
- Analytical theory development.
- Calculation of polymer density and gyration radius.
- Analysis of the gyration tensor and derived shape parameters (asphericity).
Main Results:
- The theory allows for the calculation of polymer density and gyration radius.
- A non-monotonic behavior in the gyration radius distribution was observed as a function of external force.
- The gyration tensor analysis provides insights into the overall shape of the polymer loop.
Conclusions:
- Asphericity and the nature of asphericity, alongside the gyration radius, can quantitatively describe polymer loop shapes.
- These parameters are valuable for both theoretical modeling and experimental validation.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Force On A Current Loop In A Magnetic Field
4.2K
Magnetic forces on wires carrying current are most frequently applied in motors. A DC motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical work. In motors, wire loops are enclosed in a magnetic field. When current flows through the loops, the magnetic field applies torque, which causes the shaft to rotate. The direction of the current is reversed once the loop's surface area is lined up with the magnetic field, causing a constant torque on the loop. During the process, commutators...
4.2K
02:34Polymers
40.8K
The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
40.8K
02:34Polymers
23.3K
23.3K
01:21Euler's Formula for Pin-Ended Columns
720
In structural engineering, the stability of columns under compressive axial loads is a critical consideration, described as buckling. A typical example involves a column PQ, which is pin-connected at both ends and subjected to a centric axial load F applied at one end, with a reaction force of F' = -F at the other end. Here, it is crucial to understand that when an applied load exceeds the critical load, buckling occurs as the system becomes unstable.
To calculate the critical load, envision...
To calculate the critical load, envision...
720
03:13Intermolecular Forces
70.8K
Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen...
70.8K
03:37Molecular Shape and Polarity
75.5K
Dipole Moment of a Molecule
75.5K