Question

An apparent, size-dependent form of this property in metal nanoparticle assemblies arises when the temperature exceeds the blocking temperature. A temperature-independent form of this property exhibited by trivalent europium oxides is named for J. H. Van Vleck. Treating this property using statistical mechanics yields the Brillouin (“bree-WANN”) and Langevin functions. Gadolinium is used as a contrast agent because it strongly exhibits this property. This property’s proportionality constant chi (“kye”) is inversely proportional to temperature by Curie’s law. (-5[1])Materials (10[1])with this property have positive susceptibility, and have unpaired electrons (10[1])whose moments align with external fields. For 10 points, name this property of materials that are weakly attracted by magnetic fields, contrasted with diamagnetism. (10[1])■END■ (10[2]0[1])

ANSWER: paramagnetism [or word forms like paramagnetic; accept Pauli paramagnetism or Van Vleck paramagnetism; accept superparamagnetism; prompt on magnetism or magnetic; reject “ferromagnetism” or “diamagnetism”]
<Physics>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Chinmay MurthyTexas AIowa A74-5
Dimitris KalafatisTexas A&M BUBC A7510
Aswath KaraiMichigan State AClaremont A8510
Seth WebbTexas A&M AAppalachian State10910
Kathy LiangRice AIowa B11010
Cormac BeirneSorbonneUW A11010
Abigail ZimmermanIowa ATexas A1100