What does a student need to do to find out whether a material is magnetic?
A. Find out if the material is metal or not.
B. Find out if the material is a conductor or non-conductor.
C. Find out if the material is attracted to the steel plate.
D. find out if the materials can be repelled by a compass.

Hint:The first thing one has to do in order to find the answer to this question, is to define what a magnetic material is and proceed in a way to make it so.Coming to the definition of such materials, those materials that are able to produce a magnetic field. This field is invisible but is responsible for a numerous notable property.

Complete answer:
One has to use an instrument that attracts or repels objects based on magnetic properties. A compass is an instrument used to determine direction and geographic orientation. It is made of a magnetized pointer. This small bar magnet is on a pivot so that it can move freely so as to navigate.

This needle can detect a magnetic field as it points in the direction of earth’s magnetic field. Likewise, it can point in the direction of another magnet when kept alongside one. When the needle of a compass detects the presence of a magnetic field, it tends to get aligned with the same direction as the magnetic field. This is how you find out whether the given material is magnetic or not.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Note:Keep in mind that the needle of the compass might attract or repel the presence of the magnetic field according to its pole. If the pole kept near the compass is like a pole, it repels. If the pole kept near the compass needle is an unlike pole, it attracts.Thus, the observation part is crucial and should be done with caution.