Magnetic susceptibility

Definition

Magnetic susceptibility is a measure of how much a material will become magnetized in an applied magnetic field. It indicates the degree of magnetization of a material in response to an external magnetic field.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Magnetic susceptibility ($\chi$) is dimensionless and can be positive or negative depending on the type of material.
2. Diamagnetic materials have negative susceptibility, meaning they weakly repel magnetic fields.
3. Paramagnetic materials have small positive susceptibility, meaning they are weakly attracted by magnetic fields.
4. Ferromagnetic materials have large positive susceptibility, indicating strong attraction to magnetic fields and the ability to retain magnetization even after the external field is removed.
5. The relationship between magnetization (M), applied magnetic field (H), and magnetic susceptibility is given by $M = \chi H$.

Review Questions

• What does a negative magnetic susceptibility indicate about a material?
• How does ferromagnetic material's magnetic susceptibility compare to paramagnetic material's?
• Write down the formula relating magnetization, applied magnetic field, and magnetic susceptibility.

Related terms

Diamagnetism:

A form of magnetism where materials are repelled by an external magnetic field due to induced currents creating opposing magnetic moments.

Paramagnetism: A form of magnetism whereby certain materials are weakly attracted by an externally applied magnetic field, due to unpaired electrons aligning with the field.

Ferromagnetism: A type of magnetism where certain materials can exhibit strong permanent magnetization even after an external magnetic field is removed.