Final answer:
Ceramic is chosen for electric stove tops due to its moderate conductivity, which allows efficient localized heating while keeping adjacent areas safe to touch.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some electric stoves feature a flat ceramic surface which offers distinct practical advantages for cooking. The ceramic material used for the stove top is an ideal choice because it has a conductivity less than that of a metal but is still greater than that of a good insulator like glass or plastic. This property allows the ceramic to facilitate direct heating where the pot is in contact with it, due to the underneath heating elements. However, it does not distribute heat evenly across the entire surface, ensuring that areas a few centimeters away from the heating element remain safe to touch by limiting the spread of heat. This ensures efficient, localized cooking while maintaining overall safety for the user.