When using stove top why does the whole of get so hot that you can burned?

The entire stove top gets hot when using it because heat from the heating element transfers through conduction and radiation.

- Conduction: When heat is transferred through conduction, it moves directly from one object to another through physical contact. When you place a pot or pan on the stove top, the heat from the heating element conducts through the bottom of the cookware and into the food. Some of this heat also flows through the sides of the cookware, causing the handles and exterior surfaces to become hot.

- Radiation: In addition to conduction, heat is also transferred from the stove top through radiation. Radiation occurs when heat energy radiates outward in all directions in the form of electromagnetic waves. Some of the heat from the heating element is converted into Infrared (IR) radiation which can travel through the air without needing physical contact between objects. This energy radiates from the stove top and can warm other surfaces surrounding it, including nearby walls, cabinetry, and even your oven and Microwave even when that are not in use causing them to be warm to the touch