2007-11-26 22:46:16 · 9 answers · asked by blue_soul_06 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It doesn't prevent the building being struck but it softens the impact by allowing a point discharge. For more on point discharge in meteorology see http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=point-discharge1
2007-11-26 22:53:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before the lightning strikes there is actually a flow of charged particles up from the building to the cloud. When the flow of these particles gets enough to cause a cascade breakdown in the atmosphere you get the BIG flash and bang.
So you deliberately provide a conductor high up on a building as the easiest source of these charged particles. Then that is where the lightning will strike, and because you were careful to ensure that the conductor is a nice wide strap secured to the outside of the building nearly all the destructive energy in the strike can be kept away from the main fabric of the building.
pretty animation http://regentsprep.org/Regents/physics/phys03/alightnin/default.htm
Its worth adding that the visible flash is the current flowing from the ground upwards to the cloud. So in a perverse kind of way it is the lightning rod that is the source of the strike and not the cloud!
2007-11-27 07:35:42 · answer #2 · answered by frothuk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sharp point on the end of the conducting rod enhances the electric field in the air around it when the air becomes charged. This causes the air there to be more likely to break down electrically. That, and the fact that it is higher up, greatly increases the chances that a lighting strike in the vicinity will pass through the rod and, therefore, safely to ground. Being a good conductor with a high melting point means that the rod itself is unlikely to be damaged.
2007-11-27 09:48:30 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The lightning rod has been earthed , so when a lightning hits , the lightning rod discharges the charges to the ground .
2007-11-27 07:36:03 · answer #4 · answered by Murtaza 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Years ago it was said they did work.
I did see a a house that got it's lightning rod hit, and it still did damage. I myself think the rod may have attracted the lightning. They don't use them much any more, do they?
2007-11-27 06:55:30 · answer #5 · answered by Beartoo_98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lightning rod is connected to a cable which is sunk into the ground.When lightning strike it will take the least resistive path.So the electricity will be channeled directly to ground.
2007-11-27 06:55:49 · answer #6 · answered by Just me again ☺ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lightning and electricity are attracted to metal objects like poles etc.
so instead for going through objecs in your house, lighting will hit a lightning rod, and all the electricity will be directed from the rod, often to the ground
2007-11-27 06:55:48 · answer #7 · answered by Roddy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lightening hits the highest point in an area. what happens is the electrons in the earth will travel up through a structure to meet the electrons travelling down from the sky. a rod directs the electrons someplace other than the main structure of the building
2007-11-27 06:54:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is connected to the ground. it works by transmiting the electricity to the groud, so it would not affect the building.
2007-11-27 07:00:24 · answer #9 · answered by smile 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋