I thought lightning strikes tall buildings. A lightning struck my house and there was a flame in my basement. Could that be prevented by lightning rod?
2007-06-15 15:58:32 · 4 answers · asked by escargot 1 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
YES. go look at your neighbors house,I'm sure they have one
2007-06-15 16:03:58 · answer #1 · answered by asgapollo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning causes fires because it is hotter than the surface of the sun. If your house has a lightning rod system it would conduct the lightning safely around your house, not through it, and to ground. Lightning does not always strike the highest object. Otherwise you would be protected when on the side of a mountain, you are not. I've seen lightning strike every place but the top of a mountain.
2007-06-16 13:02:51 · answer #2 · answered by DaveSFV 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lighting usually strikes taller buildings but that is not always the case. Lighting is an electrical discharge of very large proportions as such it will seek the fastest way to neutralize itself. "Go to Ground" When it travels through a wood structure to do this it can and probably will start a fire, because of the amount of heat and friction caused by the discharge. A lighting rod when properly installed attacks the lighting to it and through it to ground this prevents the lighting from causing damage to the house by giving it a faster and easier route to travel to ground. So yes a properly installed lighting rod could prevent the problem even though the chance of a lighting strike is higher do to the rod, however if the rod is not properly installed it could increase the chances of the house getting hit by lighting and increase the amount of damage done to it.
2007-06-15 16:24:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes! If lightning has caused a fire in your house, you very likely need a lightning rod and/or lightning arrestors such as are used on antenna towers.
2007-06-15 16:06:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋