How do the materials respond to the force of the magnetic field ?

Materials respond differently to the force of a magnetic field. There are three main classifications of magnetic materials. A magnet will strongly attract ferromagnetic materials, weakly attract paramagnetic materials and weakly repel diamagnetic materials.

The orientation of the spin of the electrons in an atom, the orientation of the atoms in a molecule or alloy, and the ability of domains of atoms or molecules to line up are the factors that determine how a  material responds to a magnetic field. Ferromagnetic materials have the most magnetic uses. Diamagnetic materials are mainly used in magnetic levitation.