What is a lightning conductor and how does it work?

A lightening conductor is a thick copper wire or strip that connects a spike secured onto the tallest point of a building to a long copper earth pole that is hammered deep into the ground at the side of the building.

It protects the building from lightning strikes, by providing an easier path for current to flow to earth than through the building.

In the event of a direct lightning strike, the current in the conductor may be so great as to melt or even vaporize the metal, but the damage to the building will nevertheless be limited.