Hysteresis - definition
Hysteresis - definition
Hysteresis is a physical phenomenon in which the state of a system depends not only on the current value of the stimulus acting on it, but also on its history. In other words, the response of the system is not uniquely determined by current conditions, but takes into account past changes, resulting in delays or differences in response when the direction of the stimulus is changed. A characteristic feature of hysteresis is the occurrence of a hysteresis loop, visible in a graph of the relationship between the control quantity and the system response.
This phenomenon occurs in many fields of technology and science, including magnetism, mechanics, electronics, acoustics and Automation. In ferromagnetic materials, hysteresis manifests itself in the dependence of the magnetisation on the intensity of the magnetic field - when the field is removed, the material retains some of its magnetisation, which is the basis of the operation of transformer cores, Coils or magnetic memories. In the context of mechanics, it concerns, among other things, elastic-plastic deformation, where the deformation of a body depends on previous stresses.
In control systems, hysteresis is sometimes deliberately introduced as a stabilising mechanism to prevent the output from switching too frequently at values close to a threshold. An example is a thermostat that switches heating on and off over a range of temperatures rather than at a single threshold value. Such a procedure increases the system's resistance to disturbances and improves its performance under dynamic conditions.
From a mathematical point of view, hysteresis describes non-linear systems with memory, in which the response is a function not only of the current input, but also of the path that this input has taken over time. Modelling this type of behaviour requires special differential equations or non-linear models that take into account cumulative and delayed effects. In engineering applications, correct consideration of hysteresis allows better prediction of system behaviour and the design of more reliable solutions.
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