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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1998  > November  >
In the Classroom
Models for Models: An Introduction to Polymer Models Employing Simple Analogies
M. Pilar Tarazona and Enrique Saiz
Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Física, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, SPAIN
Cover
November 1998
Vol. 75 No. 11
p. 1425
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.
More Information
*  Citation
 Tarazona, Maria Pilar; Saiz, Enrique. J. Chem. Educ. 1998 75 1425.
*  Keywords
 polymer chem, computational chem, molecular modeling, dynamics, molecular properties, structure, teaching, learning aids
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 June 18, 1999
June 24, 2005
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