Past exam of the physics course of the year 4 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / Paper 1 / Section B / B7

For a normal from medium 1 to 2, the magnetic boundary conditions areWithout a free surface current, tangential $H$ is continuous. To obtain the magnetization of a permeable sphere of radius $R$ and permeability ${\mu }_0(1+\chi )$, choose magnetic scalar potentialsTangential continuity gives $H_i=H_0-C/R^3$, and normal $B$ continuity gives $(1+\chi )H_i=H_0+2C/R^3$. HenceThe fields are uniform inside. For negative susceptibility, magnetization is antiparallel to the applied field; the scalar formula retains its negative sign.

For a small weakly magnetic body, the induced magnetic energy is $U_m=-\chi V{B}^2/(2{\mu }_0)$. The factor one-half accounts for building the induced moment. The vertical force is $F_z=\chi VB{B}^{\prime }/{\mu }_0$. Balancing gravity therefore givesA diamagnet needs a field decreasing in magnitude with height for an upward force. For diamagnetic levitation in an inverse-height field,The force falls as $z^{-3}$, giving a restoring vertical derivative at equilibrium. Full lateral stability would require the transverse field geometry, which is not specified.