1. What is Contour Length of a Macromolecule?

Definition: Contour length is the length of the macromolecule measured along its backbone from atom to atom.

Purpose: It helps researchers and scientists understand the physical dimensions of polymer molecules in their fully extended state.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( R_c \) — Contour length (meters)
• \( N_{mer} \) — Number of monomers in the polymer chain
• \( l \) — Length of each monomer unit (meters)

Explanation: The total contour length is simply the product of the number of monomer units and the length of each unit.

3. Importance of Contour Length Calculation

Details: Knowing the contour length is essential for understanding polymer properties like flexibility, persistence length, and how the molecule behaves in solution.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of monomers and the length of each monomer unit (default 3×10⁻¹² m). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical monomer length?
A: For many synthetic polymers, monomer lengths are in the range of 2-5×10⁻¹² meters (2-5 picometers).

Q2: Does this account for bond angles?
A: No, this calculates the fully extended length. Actual end-to-end distances may be shorter due to chain folding.

Q3: How do I find the number of monomers?
A: This is typically known from the polymerization process or can be calculated from molecular weight.

Q4: Can this be used for biological polymers?
A: Yes, for proteins you would use the number of amino acids and their average length.

Q5: What's the difference between contour length and end-to-end distance?
A: Contour length is the total backbone length, while end-to-end distance is the straight-line distance between chain ends.