A material becomes magnetized when what condition is met?

A material becomes magnetized when the magnetic domains within it are aligned in the same direction. Typically, in an unmagnetized material, these domains, which are small magnetic regions, point in various directions, effectively canceling each other out and resulting in no overall magnetization. When an external magnetic field is applied or when the material is subjected to a process that causes these domains to align—such as physical manipulation or exposure to a magnetic field—the domains line up, and the material gains net magnetization.

This phenomenon is fundamental in understanding how magnets are created and how ferromagnetic materials behave. Aligned domains enhance the magnetic properties of the material, allowing it to exhibit strong magnetic characteristics.