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A substance is placed in a non uniform magnetic field. It experiences weak force towards the strong field. The substance is ______ type.

Asked in GUJCET 2018 · Dia, para and ferromagnetism

Answer: (3) Paramagnetic

Step-by-step solution

Idea: which way a sample is pushed tells you the sign of its susceptibility χ, and how hard it is pushed tells you the size of χ.

A moment induced along the field (positive χ) is pulled towards the strong-field region; a moment induced against the field (negative χ) is pushed towards the weak-field region.

'Towards the strong field' therefore rules out a diamagnetic substance.

'Weak force' rules out a ferromagnetic substance: with χ of order 10³ those are dragged in strongly.

What is left is small and positive, χ of order 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻³: attracted towards the strong field, but only feebly.

So the substance is paramagnetic.

Why the other options are wrong

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