Entropic Elasticity — Freely Jointed Chain

Polymer elasticity from entropy, not energy · Langevin function · WLC crossover

Parameters

Extension: 0.0 / L₀ = 50 nm

Force–Extension Curve

Key physics: FJC elasticity is purely entropic — no bond stretching. Force aligns segments against thermal disorder.

Langevin function: ⟨x/L₀⟩ = coth(fb/k_BT) − k_BT/fb

At small forces: linear spring with k = 3k_BT/(Nb²)
At large forces: approaches full extension as 1 − k_BT/(fb)