Hysteresis

Hysteresis in magnetism refers to the phenomenon where a material's magnetic state depends on its past exposure to magnetic fields. When a magnetic material is magnetized, it retains some magnetism even after the external field is removed. This is because the magnetic domains within the material, which align with the field, don’t fully return to their original random orientation. The result is a loop-like relationship between the applied magnetic field and the material's magnetization. This behavior is significant in various applications, such as magnetic storage devices and transformers, affecting how they operate and their efficiency.