What is hysteresis?

An intuitive explanation of hysteresis is that it is a property of a system where the system wants to remain in the state that it is in - it has memory. Examples of systems with hysteresis: • Thermostats - without hysteresis your heater would be constantly switching on and off as the temperature changed. A working thermostat has a few degrees of hysteresis. As the temperature gradually increases, at some point the thermostat switches off. However, the temperature then needs to drop a few degrees for it to switch on again. • Toggle switches - the click of a toggle switch provides hysteresis to assure that small vibrations, for example, will not accidentally flip the switch. Examples of systems which ideally have little or no hysteresis: • Audio amplifiers - input vs. output. • Pendulums on frictionless bearings - force vs. position. Hysteresis is usually added thermostats by the use of a spring mechanism which causes the mechanism to want to be in either the open or closed position ...  more

An intuitive explanation of hysteresis is that it is a property of a system where the system wants to remain in the state that it is in - it has memory. Examples of systems with hysteresis: * Thermostats - without hysteresis your heater would be constantly switching on and off as the temperature changed. A working thermostat has a few degrees of hysteresis. As the temperature gradually increases, at some point the thermostat switches off. However, the temperature then needs to drop a few degrees for it to switch on again. * Toggle switches - the click of a toggle switch provides hysteresis to assure that small vibrations, for example, will not accidentally flip the switch. Examples of systems which ideally have little or no hysteresis: * Audio amplifiers - input vs. output. * Pendulums on frictionless bearings - force vs. position. Hysteresis is usually added thermostats by the use of a spring mechanism which causes the mechanism to want to be in either the open or closed position ...  more

ANS: The maximum difference between load cell output readings for the same applied load. One reading is obtained by increasing the load from zero and the other reading is obtained by decreasing the load from rated load. Measurements should be taken as rapidly as possible to minimize creep.  more