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QPage 285: Q6: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Magnetic Properties of Matter Page 285: Q6 Solution: Can we have magnetic hysteresis in paramagnetic or diamagnetic…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often mistake the linear, single‑valued $M$–$H$ relation of paramagnets and diamagnets for a guarantee of no hysteresis, overlooking that hysteresis arises only from irreversible domain‑wall motion in ferromagnets. Remember: without magnetic domains and energy barriers, the magnetisation response is perfectly reversible, so paramagnetic or diamagnetic substances cannot exhibit hysteresis regardless of field strength.

Can we have magnetic hysteresis in paramagnetic or diamagnetic substances?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** No, we cannot have magnetic hysteresis in paramagnetic or diamagnetic substances. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** Hysteresis is a phenomenon associated with ferromagnetic materials, where the magnetisation lags behind the magnetising field and depends on the history of the material. This occurs due to the existence of magnetic domains and the energy barriers to domain wall motion. Paramagnetic and diamagnetic materials have a linear and single-valued relationship between MM and HH (for small fields). They do not exhibit hysteresis because there are no domains or irreversible processes involved.

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