In order to classify materials as magnetic or non-magnetic, it must be determined whether or not forces act on the material when a material is placed in a magnetic field. If a bar of any given material is suspended in a magnetic field, it will either turn at a right angle to the field or align with the field.magnetic field. If a bar of any given material is suspended in a magnetic field, it will either turn at a right angle to the field or align with the field.

Diamagnetic Material

A material that turns at a right angle to the field by producing a magnetic response opposite to the applied field is called diamagnetic material such as silver, copper, and carbon have permeability’s slightly less than free space (for copper, μr= 0.9999980).

Paramagnetic Material

A material aligning itself with the applied field is called paramagnetic material. Paramagnetic materials such as aluminum and air have permeability’s slightly greater than that of free space (for air μr=1.0000004). The effects of diamagnetic and paramagnetic are negligibly small so that materials possessing these weak phenomena are said to be non-magnetic

Ferromagnetic Material

Within the paramagnetic class of materials, is a special classification of materials called ferromagnetic material. These materials are strongly attracted to magnets and exhibit Paramagnetism to a phenomenal degree. Ferromagnetic materials such as iron, steel, cobalt and their alloys have relative permeability’s extending into the hundreds and thousands, are said to be magnetic.

The magnetic properties of matter are associated with the spinning motion of electrons in the third shell of the atomic structure.