Question

The area of the hysteresis loop of a substance represents ______________.

Answer 1

Once we understand what a hysteresis loop is, it becomes easy to determine what the area of the hysteresis loop determines and what the curves in the hysteresis loop mean.

Complete answer:
In every system which involves a magnetic field, the phenomenon of hysteresis is bound to occur. In ferromagnetic substances, hysteresis is common property. The hysteresis effect is the effect that occurs when the magnetization of ferromagnetic materials lags behind the magnetic field. The actual meaning of hysteresis is lagging and that makes sense as hysteresis means the lag of magnetization intensity behind the magnetic field intensity.

To represent the relation between the intensity of magnetization and the magnetizing field, the hysteresis loop is formulated. By measuring the magnetic flux coming out of the ferromagnetic substance while changing the external magnetizing field, we can generate the hysteresis loop. When a less loss of hysteresis happens, it is represented with a small region of the loop.

Thus, the area of the hysteresis loop of any ferromagnetic substance represents the energy loss in magnetizing a substance and with the help of the hysteresis graph, we can calculate the residual magnetism and this makes it extra simple to select material for electromagnets.

Note: The concept of hysteresis loop provides importance to the concept of retentivity and coercivity. And so in many sources, it might be shown that with the heart of the machines, it is easier to select the most fitting material to make permanent magnets.