Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rochester!ken From: ken@rochester.arpa (Ken Yap) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Lightning Rod Problem Message-ID: <455@sol.ARPA> Date: Sun, 5-Jul-87 05:56:48 EDT Article-I.D.: sol.455 Posted: Sun Jul 5 05:56:48 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 5-Jul-87 08:39:18 EDT References: <204600003@prism> <616@neoucom.UUCP> Reply-To: ken@rochester.UUCP (Ken Yap) Organization: U of Rochester, CS Dept, Rochester, NY Lines: 9 |Since the purpose of a lightning rod is to dissipate static that |could attract a lightning bolt. It seems that the increased |surface area of a ball-tipped lightning rod would be helpful. No. The purpose of a lightning rod is to preferentially attract lightning. A sharp point does much better at breaking down the dielectric (air) than a smooth surfaceveyic R