Lightning rods...

[Externet]

Hello all.
Which one do you believe is the reality ?
- Lightning rods do attract lightning and if there is a strike, current is conducted to ground.
- Lightning rods do repel lightning protecting a building from being striken.
- It is unpredictable. Can work both ways as above.
- Nobody knows with certainty.

Do you know if there are tests, by building lightning rods in a controlled laboratory and documenting behavior with data ?

 

[std_match]

I think repel is impossible. The rod should be the most attractive target on the building,
so I say that they attract lightning.

 

[KlausST]

Hi,

It´s not "believe". It´s physics, science.

You are free to do an internet search on "How Does a Lightning Protection System Work?" on your own.

Klaus

 

[wwfeldman]

lightning rods are the tallest conductor in the area.
they attract lightning because they provide a lower resistance/impedance to ground
the net effect is to protect the structures neary

 

[stenzer]

Have a look on the pictures below, which demonstartes this behaviour in an laboartory environment without and with an lightning conducture.