Hysteresis refers to the phenomenon where the state of a system depends on its history, particularly evident in systems that do not immediately follow changes in external forces. This concept is crucial in understanding how materials and systems exhibit memory effects, leading to different outcomes based on past interactions or conditions.
Non-magnetic materials are substances that do not exhibit magnetic properties and are not attracted to a magnet. These materials have atomic structures that do not allow for net magnetic moments, thus they are ideal in applications where minimizing magnetic interference is crucial.