Question

Permanent magnets are made from?

A. paramagnetic materials

B. diamagnetic materials

C. ferromagnetic materials

D. dielectric materials

Answer 1

Concepts and reason

The concept used to solve this problem is the magnetic material property.

Consider the provided options individually and use the concept of the permanent magnet to determine the correct option.

Fundamentals

Permanent Magnet:

A permanent magnet is made up of a material that creates its own magnetic field and gets magnetized. It is made due to the orientation of its domains. Domains are formed as a small magnetic field built inside the crystalline structure of ferromagnetic materials.

Normally materials like iron, nickel, or rare-earth metals are the only substances made into magnets, and these materials are known as ferromagnetic materials. These materials always experience strong magnetic fields until it retains its magnetic field.

 

Consider option (A). The paramagnetic materials are weakly attracted in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field and induce a magnetic field in the opposite direction of the applied magnetic field. Still, a material with a strong attraction to the magnetic field is required for a permanent magnet. So, option (A) is incorrect.

Consider option (B), and the diamagnetic material is repelled by a magnetic field, where the induced magnetic field is in the direction opposite to repulsive force. But for a permanent magnet, a material with a strong attraction to the magnetic field is required. So, option (B) is incorrect.

Consider option (D), the dielectric material is insulators. Still, a good dielectric is easily polarized and does not have strong polarization in the presence of the magnetic field. But for a permanent magnet, a material with a strong attraction to the magnetic field is required. So, option (D) is incorrect.

Consider option (C), Ferromagnetic materials are strongly attracted towards the magnet, whereas all other substances respond weakly to a magnetic field. Thus, permanent magnets are made from "hard" ferromagnetic materials like Alnico and ferrite. So, option (C) is correct.

Ans:

The permanent magnets are made from ferromagnetic materials.