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Q.Depending on the magnetic property, the materials are classified into diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferro magnetic.

a) The behaviour of magnetic field lines near a magnetic substance is shown in the figure. Which material corresponds to the figure? (1/2)
b) State and explain Curie's law.
(1)
c) Compare paramagnetism and Ferro magnetism. Give examples of each. (2)
magnetic field lines bowing outward around a diamagnetic slab — Class 12 Physics magnetism question
Figure
Kerala DhseKerala DHSE Plus Two Board 2014Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Field lines bowing OUT of a material signal a diamagnetic substance; Curie's law says a paramagnetic material's susceptibility falls as 1/T1/T; and paramagnetism (weak, induced) is much weaker than ferromagnetism (strong, spontaneous, domain-based).

a) Identifying the material

When field lines approaching a material bend AWAY from it and bow outward, avoiding the interior (the field inside is weaker/excluded), the material is repelling the external field — this is the signature of a diamagnetic material (e.g. bismuth, copper, water), which develops a weak magnetisation OPPOSITE to the applied field.

b) Curie's law

For a paramagnetic material, the magnetisation MM is directly proportional to the applied field BB and inversely proportional to the absolute temperature TT:

M=C BT⟹χ=CTM = C\,\frac{B}{T} \quad\Longrightarrow\quad \chi = \frac{C}{T}

where χ\chi is the magnetic susceptibility and CC is the Curie constant. Physically: the applied field tries to align the atomic magnetic dipoles, while thermal agitation randomises them; at higher TT, thermal motion wins more, so the net alignment (and hence χ\chi) falls as 1/T1/T.

c) Paramagnetism vs Ferromagnetism

ParamagneticFerromagnetic
StrengthWeak attraction to fieldStrong attraction to field
Without external fieldNo net magnetisation (dipoles randomly oriented)Spontaneous magnetisation persists (domains stay aligned)

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