Question

Explain why a freely jointed chain le? to itself tries to coil itself. What is it trying to maximize or minimize

by doing that?

Answer 1

A freely jointed chain alawys try to coil itself .The reason is statiscally explainable.If you consider the possibilty of a state of the chain in a totally straight state and in a coiled state then the possibilty of the second state is always greater. Because number of configuration for a coiled state is far more than the only possible non-coiled straight state. Hence a freely jointed chain try to coil itself.

It is trying to maximize its entropy(a measurement of disorder) by doing that.Nature alwaysbtries to maximize the entropy of a system.