Magnetic properties of solids Magnetic Properties of Solids Materials may be classified by their response to externally applied magnetic fields as diamagnetic , paramagnetic , or ferromagnetic . These magnetic responses differ greatly in strength.
Diamagnetism is a property of all materials and opposes applied magnetic fields, but is very weak.
Paramagnetism, when present, is stronger than diamagnetism and produces magnetization in the direction of the applied field, and proportional to the applied field. Ferromagnetic effects are very large, producing magnetizations sometimes orders of magnitude greater than the applied field and as such are much larger than either diamagnetic or paramagnetic effects. The orbital motion of electrons creates tiny atomic current loops, which produce magnetic fields. When an external magnetic field is applied to a material, these current loops will tend to align in such a way as to oppose the applied field. Materials in which this effect is the only magnetic response are called diamagnetic.