The core of electromagnets are made of ferromagnetic material like soft iron because the soft iron has-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → High permeability and low retentivity
An electromagnet must become a strong magnet while the current flows and lose its magnetism as soon as the current is switched off.
High permeability lets a small current in the coil produce a large magnetisation in the core, so the magnet is strong.
Low retentivity (with low coercivity, a narrow hysteresis loop) means very little magnetism is left when the current stops, so the magnet can be switched off.
Soft iron has both. High retentivity is what a permanent magnet needs (steel), not an electromagnet, which is the usual confusion between the two.
Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic was removed from the latest NCERT book (2026-27), and it also appears to be out of the CUET 2026 syllabus.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
Permanent Magnets and Electromagnets – “… Core of electromagnets are made of ferromagnetic materials which have high permeability and low retentivity. Soft iron is a suitable material for electromagnets.”