Paramagnetism occurs in materials with a certain atomic structure. When in a magnetic field, the electrons within the material’s atoms line up, generating a magnetic field. Paramagnetism is inversely proportional to temperature. Michael Faraday discovered and studied paramagnetism. Ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials exhibit different properties within a magnetic field. The level of paramagnetism is governed by Curie’s law. Claims about the healing properties or spiritual applications of paramagnetic materials have not been proven through scientific experiments.
In physics, paramagnetism is a type of magnetism that occurs in materials with a certain atomic structure. When in a non-magnetic environment, a paramagnet exhibits no magnetic properties; when it is in a magnetic field, it immediately becomes magnetic. This is because the electrons within the material’s atoms are able to line up in a certain direction, generating a magnetic field. Paramagnetism is inversely proportional to temperature, meaning that lower temperatures cause stronger magnetic fields.
Paramagnetism was discovered and originally studied by British scientist Michael Faraday. He realized that some materials acted like negative magnets. In other words, the materials moved in the opposite direction when placed in magnetic fields. Faraday also discovered that most elements and some compounds exhibit some degree of paramagnetism. Compounds that contain materials such as platinum and iron are particularly likely to be strong paramagnets.
The main difference between paramagnetism and ferromagnetism is that a paramagnet does not have a magnetic field by itself. A ferromagnet creates a magnetic field whether it is placed next to magnetic material or non-magnetic material. Paramagnets, on the other hand, only become magnetic when placed within magnetic fields. This means that ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials exhibit very different properties within a magnetic field.
All substances are made up of groups of atoms. Each atom has protons in the center, with a positive charge, and electrons that orbit around the outside in specific shells. In a paramagnet, some atoms within the substance have unfilled inner shells. This causes each of the electrons to spin on its axis, like a top, as well as circle the center of the atom. When the substance is placed within a magnetic field, the field causes the electrons to line up in a certain direction, resulting in a paramagnetic field.
Some paramagnetic materials become magnetic under all conditions, while others require a certain temperature to exhibit magnetic properties. Sodium and platinum, for example, are weak paramagnets at all temperatures. The level of paramagnetism is governed by an equation known as Curie’s law, which states that the higher the temperature, the lower the magnetization.
Paramagnetism has been proven many times as a scientific fact. It’s an interesting phenomenon that’s also difficult to explain, however, so many alternative therapies and spiritual groups embrace the concept of paramagnetism. Claims about the healing properties or spiritual applications of paramagnetic materials, however, have not been proven through scientific experiments.
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