Lightning rod

A lightning rod (or lightning protector) is a metal strip or rod, usually of copper or similar conductive material, used as part of lightning safety to protect tall or isolated structures (such as the roof of a building or the mast of a vessel) from lightning damage. Its formal name is lightning finial. Sometimes, the system is informally refered to as:

Related Topics:
Metal - Copper - Conductive - Lightning safety - Lightning

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• a lightning conductor,
• a lightning arrester, or
• a lightning discharger.

However, these terms actually refer to lightning protection systems in general or specific components within them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lightning rod dissipators make a structure less attractive by which charges can flow to the air around it. This then reduces the voltage between the point and the storm cloud, making a strike less likely. The most common charge dissipators appear as slightly-blunted metal spikes sticking out in all directions from a metal ball. These are mounted on short metal arms at the very top of a radio antenna or tower, the area by far most likely to be struck. These devices reduce, but do not eliminate, the risk of lightning strikes.

Related Topics:
Structure - Air - Voltage - Cloud - Radio antenna - Tower

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Lightning rod: Arrestors ►