While it may appear that an induction stove is attracting pots magnetically, that's not entirely accurate. Induction stoves work by generating an electromagnetic field, but the field does not create a magnetic attraction between the stove and the pots. Instead, the magnetic field induces electrical currents within the ferromagnetic materials of the pots and pans.
Here's how it works:
Electromagnetic Field: When you turn on an induction cooktop, it generates a high-frequency electromagnetic field just above the surface.
Induction-Capable Cookware: To heat up, the cookware must be made of a ferromagnetic material, which means it contains iron or has magnetic properties. Common examples of suitable materials include cast iron, magnetic stainless steel, and enameled cast iron.
Electromagnetic Induction: When you place an induction-compatible pot or pan on the cooktop, the electromagnetic field interacts with the ferromagnetic material. This interaction induces electrical currents within the cookware.
Joule Heating: The induced electrical currents encounter resistance in the metal of the cookware. This resistance causes the cookware to heat up quickly through a process called Joule heating, which cooks the food inside the pot or pan.
So, the cookware itself becomes the heat source, not the cooktop. The induction cooktop only generates the electromagnetic field that facilitates the heating process by inducing electrical currents within the compatible cookware. The lack of magnetic attraction between the cooktop and the pots is due to the nature of the induction heating process, where the magnetic field focuses on creating eddy currents within the cookware rather than attracting the pots magnetically.