Name: Faiz Khan
Class: XII Sec-C
Subject: Physics Project
Topic: Magnetic Classification of Substances
Internal Examiner:
External Examiner:
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to
my Physics teacher, Mrs. Mukta, for her
invaluable guidance, encouragement, and
support throughout the completion of this
project. Her expertise and dedication have
helped me understand this topic thoroughly and
present it in a structured and meaningful way.
I would also like to thank our respected
Principal, Mrs. Shivani Singh, for providing us
with a platform to explore scientific concepts
beyond the classroom and for encouraging
independent learning.
Thank you all for your contributions to my
academic growth.
– Faiz Khan
Index
Sr. Page Teacher's
Topic
No. No. Remarks
1 Introduction
2 What is Magnetism?
3 Origin of Magnetism
4 Classification Overview
5 Diamagnetic Substances
6 Paramagnetic Substances
7 Ferromagnetic Substances
8 Ferrimagnetic Substances
Antiferromagnetic
9
Substances
Domain Theory of
10
Magnetism
11 Magnetic Susceptibility
Sr. Page Teacher's
Topic
No. No. Remarks
12 Magnetic Permeability
13 B-H Curve and Hysteresis
14 Curie's Law
15 Curie-Weiss Law
16 Neel Temperature
Magnetic Materials in Daily
17
Life
Applications of Magnetic
18
Materials
Magnetic Storage and
19
Devices
20 Magnetic Levitation
Magnetic Materials in
21
Electronics
Magnetic Materials in
22
Medicine
Environmental Impact of
23
Magnetic Waste
Sr. Page Teacher's
Topic
No. No. Remarks
24 Summary of Classifications
25 Conclusion
1. Introduction
Magnetism is a fundamental force of nature that
influences various physical phenomena and
technological applications. This project aims to
explain how different materials respond to
magnetic fields and how they are categorized
based on this behaviour.
2. What is Magnetism?
Magnetism refers to the force exerted by
magnets when they attract or repel each other. It
is caused by the motion of electric charges. All
materials are composed of atoms, and the
motion of electrons within atoms gives rise to
magnetic effects. When a large number of
atomic magnetic moments align, a material
becomes magnetized.
3. Origin of Magnetism
At the atomic level, magnetism originates from:
Electron spin: Electrons spin around their
axis, generating a magnetic moment.
Orbital motion: Electrons moving around
the nucleus create a loop of current,
generating a magnetic field.
Magnetic domains: Regions in materials
where the magnetic moments are aligned.
4. Classification Overview
Substances are classified based on their response
to external magnetic fields into five main
categories:
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5. Diamagnetic Substances
Weakly repelled by magnetic fields.
All electrons are paired.
Magnetic susceptibility is negative.
Examples: Copper, Bismuth, Zinc, Water.
Independent of temperature.
6. Paramagnetic Substances
Weakly attracted to magnetic fields.
Have unpaired electrons.
Magnetic susceptibility is small and
Follows Curie’s Law: χ ∝ 1/T
positive.
Examples: Aluminium, Platinum, Sodium.
7. Ferromagnetic Substances
Strongly attracted to magnetic fields.
Have magnetic domains with aligned
moments.
Retain magnetization even when the field is
removed.
High permeability and susceptibility.
Examples: Iron, Nickel, Cobalt.
8. Ferrimagnetic Substances
Opposing magnetic moments of unequal
strength.
Net magnetization is present.
Common in ferrites.
Used in electronics, microwave devices.
Example: Magnetite (Fe₃O₄).
9. Antiferromagnetic Substances
Opposing and equal magnetic moments
cancel out.
No net magnetization.
Exist below Neel Temperature.
Examples: Manganese oxide (MnO),
Chromium.
10. Domain Theory of Magnetism
Ferromagnetic materials are divided into
domains.
In an unmagnetized state, domains are
randomly oriented.
Applying a magnetic field aligns these
domains.
Explains magnetization and hysteresis
behavior.
11. Magnetic Susceptibility (χ)
χ = M/H (M = magnetization, H = field
strength)
Dimensionless quantity.
Positive for paramagnetic, negative for
diamagnetic.
Used to classify materials.
12. Magnetic Permeability (μ)
μ = B/H (B = magnetic flux density)
Describes ease of magnetization.
High in ferromagnetic materials.
Relative permeability (μr) = μ / μ₀.
13. B-H Curve and Hysteresis
Shows the relation between B and H.
Retentivity: Residual magnetism after field
removal.
Coercivity: Field needed to demagnetize.
Area under curve = energy loss.
Important in designing magnetic cores.
14. Curie's Law
χ = C/T
Applicable to paramagnetic substances.
C = Curie constant, T = temperature.
Shows inverse relation between χ and T.
15. Curie-Weiss Law
χ = C / (T – θ)
Modified form of Curie’s law.
θ = Curie temperature.
Explains behavior above Curie point in
ferromagnets.
16. Neel Temperature
Temperature above which antiferromagnetic
material becomes paramagnetic.
No net magnetism below this point due to
alignment of opposite moments.
17. Magnetic Materials in Daily Life
Refrigerator magnets (Ferrimagnetic)
Credit card stripes
Speakers, microphones (Ferromagnetic)
18. Applications of Magnetic Materials
Electromagnets, transformers, relays
Hard drives, tapes
Sensors and actuators
MRI machines
19. Magnetic Storage and Devices
Use of magnetic domains to encode binary
data.
Found in HDDs, magnetic tapes.
Based on coercively and retentivity.
20. Magnetic Levitation
Magnetic repulsion used for levitating
objects.
Applications: Maglev trains, contactless
bearings.
21. Magnetic Materials in Electronics
Ferrites reduce electromagnetic interference.
Used in chokes, coils, filters.
22. Magnetic Materials in Medicine
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Magnetic nanoparticles in targeted drug
delivery
23. Environmental Impact of Magnetic Waste
Rare-earth magnets create disposal
challenges.
Recycling of magnets from e-waste is
essential.
24. Summary of Classifications
Moment
Susceptibi Exampl
Type Alignme
lity es
nt
Diamagnetic Negative None Bismuth,
Moment
Susceptibi Exampl
Type Alignme
lity es
nt
Zinc
Aluminu
Positive
Paramagnetic Partial m,
(low)
Platinum
Positive Parallel Iron,
Ferromagnetic
(high) (same) Cobalt
Positive Unequal Magnetit
Ferromagnetic
(moderate) opposite e
MnO,
Antiferromagn Equal
Zero Chromiu
etic opposite
m
25. Conclusion
The study of magnetic classification of
substances provides deep insight into the
material’s internal atomic structure and their
practical implications. Understanding the
differences between diamagnetic, paramagnetic,
ferromagnetic, ferromagnetic, and
antiferromagnetic substances allows us to design
and use materials effectively in everything from
daily household appliances to advanced medical
and defence technologies. With on going
innovations, magnetic materials will continue to
shape the future.