Why copper can't be magnetised?

Answer 1

Iron is a paramagnetic substance.so when a magnetic field is applied the molecules align itself in the direction of field.There may be other paramagnetic substances like iron.But diamagnetic substances are difficult to magnetise

Answer 2

because iron is magnetic and copper is not. in iron the electrons spin in one way but in copper some electrons spin in one direction and other moves opposite to this. in fact main reason is just way of spining of electrons that makes them magnetic or non magnetic.

Answer 3

The article in the related link has a pretty good explanation about why some materials are attracted to magnetic fields, or can retain their own magnetic fields (thereby becoming a magnet). A magnetic field can be caused by an electric current. At the atomic level, each electron's spin will produce a tiny magnetic field (an electron moving is a tiny electric current). This magnetic field can be canceled out by another electron in the atom spinning in the opposite direction.

If there is an electron which is not paired with another electron spinning in the opposite direction, then the atom will have a net magnetic moment (it will act like a small magnet). When this material is placed in another magnetic field (like from a permanent magnet, or electromagnet), the little atomic magnets will align themselves with the external field. The aligning of the magnetic fields creates a magnetic attractive force between the material and the external magnetic field.

Copper does not have the necessary magnetic moments to align with the magnetic field, so there is no attractive force. However, you can turn a copper wire into an electromagnet, by running a current through it, which then will have a magnetic field which can attract or repel the other magnetic field.

Answer 4

A piece of copper is diamagnetic. Diamagnetism is the property of an object which causes it to create a magnetic field in opposition to an externally applied magnetic field, thus causing a repulsive effect. Specifically, an external magnetic field alters the orbital velocity of electrons around their nuclei, thus changing the magnetic dipole moment. According to Lenz's law, these electrons will oppose the magnetic field changes provided by the applied field, preventing them from building up. The result is that lines of magnetic flux curve away from the material. In most materials, diamagnetism is a weak effect, but under conditions of superconductivity, which only some materials may obtain, a strong quantum effect can emerge wherein the lines are completely blocked, excluding a very thin layer at the material's surface. Diamagnets are materials with a magnetic permeability less than μ0. (a relative permeability less than 1).

Answer 5

copper itself is not magnetic or is only slightly magnetic. But it does interact with magnets. Copper is Diamagnetic, The magnetic lines of force tend to go around them istead of through them.