A net magnetic moment is associated with each atom in both p

A net magnetic moment is associated with each atom in both paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials. However, only ferromagnetic materials can be magnetized permanently. Explain why ferromagnetic materials can be magnetized permanently whereas paramagnetic materials cannot.

Solution

Ferromagnetic materials may be permanently magnetized (whereas paramagnetic ones may not) because of the ability of net spin magnetic moments of adjacent atoms to align with one another. This mutual magnetic moment alignment in the same direction exists within small volume regions--domains. When a magnetic field is applied, favorably oriented domains grow at the expense of unfavorably oriented ones, by the motion of domain walls. When the magnetic field is removed, there remains a net magnetization by virtue of the resistance to movement of domain walls; even after total removal of the magnetic field, the magnetization of some net domain volume will be aligned near the direction that the external field was oriented. For paramagnetic materials, there is no magnetic dipole coupling, and, consequently, domains do not form. When a magnetic field is removed, the atomic dipoles assume random orientations, and no magnetic moment remains.
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