Everything can be magnetized: simulating diamagnetic and paramagnetic response of everyday materials in magnetic balance experiments

Abstract

Abstract Magnetic properties are universal and inherent in all matter. While most experimental approaches focus on ferromagnetism and electromagnetism, few experiments exist to analyse diamagnetism and paramagnetism. To demonstrate these mostly unknown types of magnetic, magnetic balance experiments represent a simple and compelling approach. However, phenomenological experiments are not sufficient to develop a fundamental understanding of these types of magnetism. This paper presents an interactive simulation that can be used to complement magnetic balance experiments. It enables learners to understand diamagnetism and paramagnetism more deeply by incorporating interactive visual models gaining insights beyond the real experiments. Among other things, the simulation enables the analysis of substances without the possibility of detecting magnetic properties in real experiments, it visualizes the temporal evolution of magnetization and explains the influence of eddy currents.