bistability
Sign in to saveAlso known as bistable, bistable element
thumb|upright=1.4|A graph of the potential energy of a bistable system; it has two local minima x_1 and x_2. A surface shaped like this with two "low points" can act as a bistable system; a ball resting on the surface can only be stable at those two positions, such as balls marked "1" and "2". Between the two is a local maximum x_3. A ball located at this point, ball 3, is in equilibrium but unstable; the slightest disturbance will cause it to move to one of the stable points. thumb|upright=0.8|Light switch, a bistable mechanism
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thumb|upright=1.4|A graph of the potential energy of a bistable system; it has two local minima x_1 and x_2. A surface shaped like this with two "low points" can act as a bistable system; a ball resting on the surface can only be stable at those two positions, such as balls marked "1" and "2". Between the two is a local maximum x_3. A ball located at this point, ball 3, is in equilibrium but unstable; the slightest disturbance will cause it to move to one of the stable points. thumb|upright=0.8|Light switch, a bistable mechanism
In a dynamical system, bistability means the system has two stable equilibrium states. A bistable structure can be resting in either of two states. An example of a mechanical device which is bistable is a light switch. The switch lever is designed to rest in the "on" or "off" position, but not between the two. Bistable behavior can occur in mechanical linkages, electronic circuits, nonlinear optical systems, chemical reactions, and physiological and biological systems.