Magnetic properties of solids

Abstract

To the man-in-the-street, matter is often thought to be either magnetic or non-magnetic. An ordinary magnet attracts magnetic material, e.g. iron filings, pins, lodestone, whereas non-magnetic material, e.g. wood, chalk, is not attracted to the magnet. In fact, all materials show some reaction to a magnetic field though in the case of conventionally ‘non-magnetic’ materials the reaction will be very weak. A powerful electromagnet and sensitive measuring instrument are needed to demonstrate these weak reactions.

Couples and electrons have their moments.

Graffito,

James Clerk Maxwell Building,

Edinburgh University