paramagneettien

Paramagneettien is a Finnish term that translates to paramagnets in English. Paramagnets are a class of materials that are weakly attracted to an external magnetic field. Unlike ferromagnetic materials, which retain their magnetism after the external field is removed, paramagnets only exhibit magnetism in the presence of an external field and lose it when the field is removed.

The magnetic properties of paramagnets arise from the presence of unpaired electrons in their atoms or molecules. These unpaired electrons have a magnetic dipole moment, which acts like a tiny magnet. When an external magnetic field is applied, these magnetic dipoles tend to align themselves with the field, resulting in a net magnetic moment in the material. This alignment is partial, which is why the attraction is weak.

Common examples of paramagnetic materials include aluminum, platinum, and oxygen. These materials are often used in applications where a weak magnetic response is desired, such as in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines or in scientific instruments for measuring magnetic fields. The susceptibility of paramagnetic materials is positive but very small, typically in the range of 10^-5 to 10^-3. Their magnetic susceptibility is also temperature-dependent, generally decreasing with increasing temperature as thermal agitation disrupts the alignment of magnetic dipoles.