Which of the following is a characteristic of diamagnetic materials when placed in a magnetic field?

Explanation:

Diamagnetic Materials

Diamagnetic materials are those that create an opposing magnetic field when exposed to an external magnetic field. This phenomenon causes them to be weakly repelled by the magnetic field. Diamagnetism is a fundamental property of all materials and arises from the orbiting electrons creating tiny current loops, which produce magnetic fields that oppose the applied field.

Characteristics:

• Diamagnetic materials are repelled by magnetic fields.
• The induced magnetic field within diamagnetic materials opposes the external magnetic field.
• They exhibit negative magnetic susceptibility, meaning their magnetization is in the opposite direction to the applied field.

Examples: Some common examples of diamagnetic materials include bismuth, copper, gold, silicon, and water.

Additional Information

To further understand the analysis, let’s evaluate the other options:

Option 1: They are strongly magnetized in the same direction as the applied magnetic field.

This description is characteristic of ferromagnetic materials, not diamagnetic ones. Ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, cobalt, and nickel, become strongly magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field and the magnetization aligns in the same direction as the applied field.

Option 2: They exhibit no effect in a magnetic field.

This option is incorrect as diamagnetic materials do exhibit an effect when placed in a magnetic field. They generate an induced magnetic field that opposes the external magnetic field, leading to weak repulsion.

Option 4: They exhibit a strong attraction to the magnetic field.

This description is characteristic of paramagnetic materials, not diamagnetic ones. Paramagnetic materials are weakly attracted to magnetic fields and align their magnetic dipoles in the same direction as the applied field.

Conclusion:

Understanding the behavior of different types of magnetic materials is crucial for accurately identifying their characteristics. Diamagnetic materials, as explained, exhibit weak repulsion from an applied magnetic field due to the induced magnetic field opposing the external field. This property distinguishes them from ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials, which are either strongly attracted to or weakly attracted to magnetic fields, respectively.