Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/ii/paper-2/37a/f/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 2 37A f Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
The condition implies . The small-argument expansion of the hyperbolic tangent gives , soUsing yields the entropic Hooke law for a one-dimensional chainThus the effective spring constant is .
At fixed tension, the exact extension isIncreasing the temperature decreases the positive argument of the hyperbolic tangent, so the chain contracts. In the small-extension regime this becomeswhich is inversely proportional to .
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