Not just any pan will do. The material must be ferromagnetic. Iron pans or cast iron pans work perfectly. Aluminium or stainless steel will not work unless they have a special bottom (made of iron). It depends on what you mean by a "normal pan". For me, a normal pan is a cast iron pan because it works on all types of cooker, in the oven, on the grill and over a fire and lasts a lifetime.

No. With normal pans, the plate does not switch on or transfer the heat. The pan must have an "induction" ring or you must insert one of these between the plates.