What factor primarily accounted for the long incubation period of induction relative to the microwave oven?
Answer
Unavailability of necessary power electronics and cost reductions.
While the underlying physics of induction heating were understood early in the 19th century, the technology required decades of refinement before it could become a practical, affordable consumer appliance. Unlike the microwave, which moved quickly to mass-market dominance, induction faced a 'slow burn.' This delay was largely attributable to material science limitations and, critically, the fact that the sophisticated, reliable power electronics required for precise control, miniaturization, and cost-effective mass production simply did not exist or were prohibitively expensive until later in the 20th century.
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