Question

A magnetically soft material is placed in a strong magnetic field.

What is the most likely outcome? 

It will become a permanent magnet because the domains will remain aligned.It will become a temporary magnet because the domains will remain aligned.It will become a permanent magnet because the domains will easily realign.It will become a temporary magnet because the domains will easily realign.

Answer 1

Explanation :

The materials in which the direction of the magnetic field can be changed very easily are said to be magnetically soft materials. Ferromagnetic materials are also called as soft materials.

Ferromagnetic materials have a net magnetic moment even in the absence of a magnetic field. The alignment of electrons on the application of magnetic fields result in the formation of domains.

When a magnetically soft material is placed in a strong magnetic field, it will become a temporary magnet because the domains will easily realign.

So, the correct option is (d).

Answer 2

Magnetically soft materials are objects that can easily be magnetized, but the magnetic field can easily be reversed or turned on/off. These magnetic fields are not stable, unlike those that can be made with magnetically hard counterparts. Electromagnets are magnetically soft. For the situation given above, the last choice is the correct one. The domains will easily realign for the material, but since it is magnetically soft, then it is only categorized as a temporary magnet and not a permanent one.