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To the best of my knowledge, lightning rods are (were) not driven in the ground, they are (were) placed on the roofs and apexes of building structures, to supposedly either ward off lightning, or to capture it and redirect it to the ground. I believe they are (were) then connected to each other and to a cable running to a stake in the ground, the depth of which made no difference, since the concept of the lightning rod was a sales hoax of the early twentieth century that relieved many a farmer of a few dollars.
Since I lived in the waning days of the lightning rod and had seen many of them installed, and had even sat through a sales pitch, I will continue.
A number of "scientific" premises were put forth as to how the lightning rod functioned - since buildings equipped with them were almost never struck by lightning (neither were the buildings without them), including:
- The lightning now strikes the rod (the highest part of the building) and is carried away to the ground. As soon as that was disproved by the fact that a healthy bolt of lightning would fry not only the rod, but the building too, a new "theory" was devised:
-Ok, well...errr, ahem...ok the lightening rod sets up an atmosphere around itself, of negative (or positive) ions (somehow) which repel the lightning and make it hit your neighbor's barn who did not buy lightning rods. Yeh, that's it!
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∙ 14y ago
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Why is the lighting rod important?
The lightning rod is important because it directs lightning into the ground, therefore making it harmless and stopping it from striking anywhere else.
How did the lightning rod improve peoples lives?
The lightning rod (USA), lightning conductor (UK) is a metal rod that is placed on the top of tall buildings. A metal cable or strap connects the conductor to another metal rod sunk deep into the earth. The principle is that should lightning strike the building, it is attracted to the conductor and travels down the cable to be dissipated safely into the earth - so saving the building from lightning damage. Wooden building used to burn down under stikes from lightening. The lighten rod (Ben Franklin) gives the electricity a easy path to the ground instead of a heat-producing path through wood.
Why you should connect your TV antenna to a metal rod that is driven into ground?
In case of a lightening strike.
What would happen if a lighting rod were made of an insulation material rather than conducting material?
Such a rod would not be a lightning rod. It would not attract lightning and would not work as a lightning rod. In fact, it would do nothing but stand up and occupy space.
Does a lightning rod use electriacity and magnets?
no
How do function in lightning rods?
The function of a lightning rod is to absorb a lightning strike and lead the charge safely to ground before the building is damaged. The rod is placed slightly above the highest part of a building. A metal cable is attached to the rod, and the bottom end of the cable is buried deep in the ground.
When lightning hits a lightning rod where does the lightning go?
The ground
What metal is a lightning rod made of?
Any metal that will conduct electricity. Steel works fine, since it is strong. A ground rod driven into the ground and connected to the lightning rod with a wire or cable. The ground rod is usually copper clad (or plated) steel.
What a lightning rod?
A lightning rod is a metal rod placed in various structures to prevent lightning from striking them. It attracts the lightning to itself, and it is channeled into the ground.
What a lightning rob does?
It is called a lightning rod and it protects buildings from lightning by guiding the lightning into the ground.
When lightning strikes a lightning rod Where is the last place the charge flows?
A lightning rod is grounded, meaning it connects to the ground, and the ground is the last place the charge flows to. It is absorbed into the planet Earth.
How tall is a lightning rod?
it doesn't have a fixed length, as long as a rod is "grounded" connected to the ground by a heavy duty wire, it's a lightning rod. . .
What impact did the invention of lightning rod have on society?
The lightning rod enabled people to have a system that prevented their house from being struck by lightning. It is a metal rod that prevented lightning from striking. Instead of striking the target it bounced off the rod and into the ground.
How do lighting rod work?
The lightning strikes the rod and the rod safely directs the lightning to the ground to keep the house safe.Otherwise,the lightning would discharge onto the roof and likely cause a fire.
How lighting rod prevent lighting from causing house to catch on fire?
The electricity from lightning will follow a wire from the lightning rod to the ground.
How does a lightning rod help protect a barn from lightning damage?
they help by rerouting the lightning around the barn and into the ground, i believe.
Why is the lighting rod important?
The lightning rod is important because it directs lightning into the ground, therefore making it harmless and stopping it from striking anywhere else.
