Magnetic Hysteresis

Magnetic hysteresis refers to the phenomenon where a material's magnetization depends on its magnetic history. When a magnetic field is applied to a material, it becomes magnetized, but when the field is removed, it doesn’t completely lose this magnetization. This results in a loop-like graph if you plot magnetization against the applied magnetic field. The energy lost in this process, often as heat, is significant in applications like transformers and magnetic storage. Essentially, hysteresis shows how a material “remembers” its magnetic state, which is crucial for many technologies that rely on magnets.