Paramagnetic Substances Are ______ To Magnets.

Paramagnetic Substances Are ______ To Magnets.

• A. Repelled
• B. Attracted
• C. Neutral
• D. Unaffected

Answer: (B)

Paramagnetic substances have unpaired electrons, which give rise to magnetic dipoles. In an external magnetic field, these dipoles tend to align with the field, producing a net magnetic moment in the same direction as the field. When there’s a gradient in the field, that alignment creates a force pulling the material toward regions of higher field strength. So, paramagnetic materials are attracted to magnets. The attraction is typically weak because only a fraction of the moments align at ordinary field strengths. This distinguishes them from diamagnetic materials, which are repelled by a magnetic field.

Paramagnetic substances have unpaired electrons, which give rise to magnetic dipoles. In an external magnetic field, these dipoles tend to align with the field, producing a net magnetic moment in the same direction as the field. When there’s a gradient in the field, that alignment creates a force pulling the material toward regions of higher field strength. So, paramagnetic materials are attracted to magnets. The attraction is typically weak because only a fraction of the moments align at ordinary field strengths. This distinguishes them from diamagnetic materials, which are repelled by a magnetic field.