magnetic attraction - attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as well as magnets; characterized by fields of forceelectromagnetism - magnetism produced by an electric current; "electromagnetism was discovered when it was observed that a copper wire carrying an electric current can magnetize pieces of iron or steel near it" antiferromagnetism - magnetic field creates parallel but opposing spins; varies with temperature diamagnetism - phenomenon exhibited by materials like copper or bismuth that become magnetized in a magnetic field with a polarity opposite to the magnetic force; unlike iron they are slightly repelled by a magnet ferromagnetism - phenomenon exhibited by materials like iron (nickel or cobalt) that become magnetized in a magnetic field and retain their magnetism when the field is removed paramagnetism - materials like aluminum or platinum become magnetized in a magnetic field but it disappears when the field is removed |