Which statement best describes paramagnetic materials?

Which statement best describes paramagnetic materials?

• A. They can become magnetized only in the presence of a surrounding magnetic field.
• B. They are permanently magnetized without any external field.
• C. They repel magnets and cannot be magnetized.
• D. They are magnetized by gravitational forces.

Answer: (B)

Paramagnetic materials respond to an external magnetic field by aligning some of their magnetic moments with the field, producing a small induced magnetization. This alignment is temporary—the magnetization disappears when the external field is removed because thermal motion randomizes the spins. So, paramagnetic materials are magnetized only in the presence of a magnetic field, not permanently. This distinguishes them from ferromagnetic materials, which can retain magnetization after the field is gone. The other statements either imply permanent magnetization or introduce unrelated effects, which don’t describe paramagnetism.

Paramagnetic materials respond to an external magnetic field by aligning some of their magnetic moments with the field, producing a small induced magnetization. This alignment is temporary—the magnetization disappears when the external field is removed because thermal motion randomizes the spins. So, paramagnetic materials are magnetized only in the presence of a magnetic field, not permanently. This distinguishes them from ferromagnetic materials, which can retain magnetization after the field is gone. The other statements either imply permanent magnetization or introduce unrelated effects, which don’t describe paramagnetism.