A metallic rod when placed in strong magnetic field, aligns itself at right angles to the magnetic field. The nature of material is :

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct answer to the question is Option 1: Diamagnetic. Here is a detailed explanation supporting this choice and why the other options are incorrect:

1. **Explanation for Option 1 (Diamagnetic):**
   - Diamagnetic materials are characterized by their tendency to create an induced magnetic field in a direction opposite to an externally applied magnetic field. This results in a repulsive effect. When a diamagnetic material is placed in a strong magnetic field, it experiences a force that tends to push it out of the field. Consequently, the material aligns itself at right angles to the magnetic field lines to minimize the interaction with the field. This behavior is consistent with the description given in the question, where the metallic rod aligns itself at right angles to the magnetic field.

2. **Why Option 2 (Paramagnetic) is incorrect:**
   - Paramagnetic materials have unpaired electrons that align with an external magnetic field, causing a weak attraction to the field. Unlike diamagnetic materials, paramagnetic materials do not align themselves at right angles to the magnetic field. Instead, they tend to align parallel to the field lines to maximize the interaction. Therefore, a paramagnetic material would not exhibit the behavior described in the question.

3. **Why Option 3 (Ferromagnetic) is incorrect:**
   - Ferromagnetic materials have a strong attraction to magnetic fields due to the alignment of their magnetic domains. These materials tend to align themselves parallel to the magnetic field lines, not at right angles. The strong attraction and alignment with the field make ferromagnetic materials unsuitable for the behavior described in the question.

4. **Why Option 4 (Can be Ferromagnetic or Paramagnetic) is incorrect:**
   - As explained above, both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials align themselves parallel to the magnetic field lines, not at right angles. Therefore, neither ferromagnetic nor paramagnetic materials can exhibit the behavior described in the question. Hence, this option is incorrect.

In conclusion, the behavior of aligning at right angles to a magnetic field is characteristic of diamagnetic materials, which justifies why Option 1 is the correct answer.