Magnetic domains

Definition

Magnetic domains are regions within a magnetic material where the magnetization is uniformly aligned in the same direction. These domains collectively determine the material's overall magnetic properties.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Magnetic domains exist because of the minimization of the material's internal energy.
2. The boundaries between different magnetic domains are known as domain walls.
3. External magnetic fields can reorient the alignment of these domains, resulting in magnetization of the material.
4. In ferromagnetic materials, domains align parallel to each other spontaneously even without an external field.
5. The process of domain realignment under an external field is called magnetic hysteresis.

Review Questions

• What is a magnetic domain and how does it affect a material's magnetic properties?
• What are domain walls and what role do they play in magnetism?
• How does an external magnetic field influence the orientation of magnetic domains?

Related terms

Ferromagnetism: A phenomenon where certain materials can exhibit spontaneous magnetization; that is, they can become magnets without an external magnetic field.

Domain Wall: The boundary that separates two neighboring magnetic domains with different magnetization directions within a material.

Hysteresis: A lagging effect observed when there is a delay between changes in a physical property and changes in its effect, such as the delay in magnetization response to changes in an external magnetic field.