Chapter 8: Problem 3

What happens to a ferromagnetic material when it is placed in a magnetic field?

Short Answer

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Answer: When a ferromagnetic material is placed in an external magnetic field, the magnetic domains within the material align with the external field, increasing its net magnetic field. If the external field is removed, the material may still possess some magnetic properties and behave as a permanent magnet, due to the remaining aligned magnetic domains.

Step by step solution

Understanding Ferromagnetism

Ferromagnetism is a property of certain materials, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, and their alloys, which exhibit spontaneous magnetization even in the absence of an external magnetic field. This is due to the alignment of the magnetic dipole moments of adjacent atoms or ions in the material in parallel directions, resulting in an overall net magnetic field.

Magnetization Process

In the absence of an external magnetic field, the magnetic dipole moments of a ferromagnetic material are arranged in domains. A domain is a region where the magnetic dipole moments are aligned in the same direction. Within a domain, the magnetic dipole moments reinforce each other, while between domains they can cancel each other out, leading to an overall weak magnetic field.

Placing Ferromagnetic Material in a Magnetic Field

When a ferromagnetic material is placed in an external magnetic field, the magnetic field causes the domains to align with the external field, thereby increasing the net magnetic field of the material. This process is known as the process of magnetization. As more domains align with the external field, the material becomes magnetically saturated and exhibits a strong overall magnetic field.

Removing the External Magnetic Field

If the external magnetic field is removed, the ferromagnetic material will still retain some of its magnetic properties, making it a permanent magnet. This is due to the fact that some of the magnetic domains remain aligned even after the external field is removed. This phenomenon is known as magnetic hysteresis.

Summary

When a ferromagnetic material is placed in a magnetic field, the external field causes the magnetic domains in the material to align, resulting in an increase in the net magnetic field of the material. If the external field is removed, the material may still possess some magnetic properties and behave as a permanent magnet, due to the remaining aligned magnetic domains.

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What happens to a ferromagnetic material when it is placed in a magnetic field?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Ferromagnetism

Magnetization Process

Placing Ferromagnetic Material in a Magnetic Field

Removing the External Magnetic Field

Summary

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