Geophysical Techniques

Lab Report: Magnetic Susceptibility

I) Aim:
To calculate the magnetic susceptibility of copper II sulfate 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 using
Guoy Balance.
II) Theory:
A magnet is an object made of certain materials which create a magnetic
field without the presence of an applied magnetic field.
Magnetism is a physical phenomenon; once a material is placed in magnetic
field, it produces a magnetic field.
Magnetic Susceptibility:
Magnetic susceptibility, quantitative measure of the extent to which a
material may be magnetized in relation to a given applied magnetic field.
The magnetic susceptibility of a material, commonly symbolized by χ, is
equal to the ratio of the magnetization M within the material to the applied
magnetic strength H, or χ= M/H. This ratio, strictly speaking, is the volume
susceptibility, because magnetization essentially involves a certain measure
of magnetism (dipole moment) per unit volume.
If magnetic susceptibility is positive then the material can be paramagnetic
or ferromagnetic. In this case the magnetic field is strengthened by the
presence of the material. Alternatively, if magnetic susceptibility is negative,
the material is diamagnetic. As a result, the magnetic field is weakened in
the presence of the material.
𝑀 𝑀𝑚
𝜒= Such that 𝑀 =
𝐻 𝑉
Where 𝜒: Magnetic Susceptibility
M: Net Magnetization
H: Applied magnetic field
𝑀𝑚 : Magnetic moment
V: volume
Classification of materials according to their magnetic behavior:

Diamagnetic materials have a weak, negative

susceptibility to magnetic fields. Diamagnetic materials
are slightly repelled by a magnetic field and the material
does not retain the magnetic properties when the external
field is removed. In diamagnetic materials all the
electron are paired so there is no permanent net magnetic moment per atom.
Diamagnetic properties arise from the realignment of the electron paths
under the influence of an external magnetic field. Most elements in the
periodic table, including copper, silver, and gold, are diamagnetic. ( Range
of 𝜒 is between −10−6 𝑎𝑛𝑑 )

Paramagnetic materials have a small,

positive susceptibility to magnetic fields.
These materials are slightly attracted by a
magnetic field and the material does not
retain the magnetic properties when the
external field is removed. Paramagnetic
properties are due to the presence of some
unpaired electrons, and from the
realignment of the electron paths caused by
the external magnetic field. Paramagnetic materials include magnesium,
molybdenum, lithium, and tantalum. (Range of 𝜒 is
between 10−6 𝑎𝑛𝑑 10−3 )

Ferromagnetic materials have a large, positive susceptibility to an external

magnetic field. They exhibit a strong attraction to magnetic fields and are
able to retain their magnetic properties after the
external field has been removed. Ferromagnetic
materials have some unpaired electrons so their
atoms have a net magnetic moment. They get their
strong magnetic properties due to the presence of
magnetic domains. In these domains, large numbers
of atom's moments (1012 to 1015) are aligned parallel
so that the magnetic force within the domain is
strong. When a ferromagnetic material is in the
unmagnitized state, the domains are nearly randomly
organized and the net magnetic field for the part as a whole is zero. When a
magnetizing force is applied, the domains become aligned to produce a
strong magnetic field within the part. Iron, nickel, and cobalt are examples
of ferromagnetic materials. ( 𝜒 > 10−3)

In short, the definitions go like this:

Diamagnetism refers to materials that are not affected by a magnetic field.
Paramagnetism refers to materials like aluminum or platinum which
become magnetized in a magnetic field but their magnetism disappears when
the field is removed.
Ferromagnetism refers to materials (such as iron and nickel) that can retain
their magnetic properties when the magnetic field is removed.

Relationship of B and H
When the generated fields pass through magnetic materials which
themselves have internal magnetic fields, uncertainties can arise about the
part of the field comes from the external currents and that that comes from
the material itself. Therefore, another magnetic field quantity has been
defined which is “the magnetic field strength” H.
𝐵 𝐵
It can be defined by this relationship: 𝐻 = 𝜇𝑜 = 𝜇 − 𝑀
𝑜 𝑜

Where B: magnetic flux density or magnetic induction

M: magnetization of the material

𝛍° : the magnetic permeability of space

The relationship between B and H is given by:

where μ is a physical constant known as the permeability. In a vacuum, this is

the permeability of free space, μo. In the SI system, μ has dimensions of henries
per meter and μo is 4π × 10-7 H ⋅ m-1.

Derivation:
𝐵 = 𝜇° (𝐻 + 𝑀)
𝑀
𝜒=𝐻 ∴ 𝑀 = 𝜒. 𝐻
𝐵 = 𝜇° (𝐻 + 𝜒. 𝐻 ) = 𝜇° 𝐻(1 + 𝜒)
Let 𝐾𝑚 = 1 + 𝜒
 ∴ 𝐵 = 𝜇° 𝐾𝑚 𝐻 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝜇𝑚 = 𝐾𝑚 𝜇°
∴ 𝐵 = 𝜇𝑚 𝐻
Where 𝜇° : 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒
𝜇𝑚 : 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝐾𝑚: 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙
For paramagnetic and diamagnetic materials the relative permeability is very
close to 1 and the magnetic susceptibility very close to zero. For
ferromagnetic materials, these quantities may be very large.

III) Apparatus:
 Guoy balance
 Power supply
 String
 Glass tube
 Copper II sulfate 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 powder of density ρ (𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4) = 2.284 g/cmᶟ
 Two coils (magnetic field)
 Ammeter
 Connecting wires
IV) Procedure (method):
1. Turn on the Guoy balance while hanging the string to reset the
balance.
2. Without external magnetic field, measure the mass of the glass
tube (Mtube) using Guoy balance.
3. Apply magnetic field with I=4.5 A, and measure again the mass
of the tube (mtube).
4. Grind the CuSO4 until fine powder then fill it in the glass tube.
5. Repeat the second and the third steps to determine m tube+powder and
M tube+powder.
6. Calculate the correction term due to air α using the formula
α=KV.
7. Calculate the magnetic susceptibility of Copper II Sulfate.
V) Calculations and results:
 Without magnetic field With magnetic field
Mass tube (g) 6.28 6.32
Mass tube with powder (g) 9.31 9.49
Mass of powder (g) M=3.03 3.17

M powder without magnetic field =9.31-6.28=3.03 g

m powder with magnetic field = 9.49-6.32=3.17 g

𝛼 𝑚
𝜒 (CuSO4) = 𝑀 + 𝛽 𝑀

M 3.03
V= 𝜌 = 2.284 = 1.33 𝑐𝑚3
𝛼 = 𝐾𝑉 = 0.029 × 10−6 × 1.33 = 3.85 × 10−8 𝑐𝑚3
𝛽 = 4.95 × 10−4𝑐𝑚3/𝑔
𝛼 𝑚 3.85×10−8 3.17
𝜒 (CuSO4) = 𝑀 + 𝛽 𝑀 = 3.03
+ (4.95 × 10−4 )
3.03
= 5.23 × 10 −4 𝑐𝑚3 /𝑔