Abstract Many of the solution properties of polymers can now be rapidly measured with a high degree of precision because of a recent innovation in Rayleigh light scattering photometry. Absolute molecular weight distribution and molecular weight averages of several polymers were readily obtained by on line coupling of the low angle laser light scattering photometer with a commercially available gel permeation chromatograph. Data on the characteristic ratios ( C N = 2 )> 0 nl 2 ) and the second virial coefficients as well as the Mark-Houwink constants for poly(bicycloheptene sulfone), P(MMA), and P(MMA/MAA) copolymers of different compositions in THF, CHCl3, and cyclohexanone solvents were obtained. Some translational diffusion coefficient data of polymers in dilute solution measured by the dynamic Rayleigh light scattering technique is also presented.