Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!rutgers!princeton!udel!rochester!ken From: ken@rochester.arpa (Ken Yap) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Lightning Rod Problem Message-ID: <495@sol.ARPA> Date: Thu, 9-Jul-87 11:59:58 EDT Article-I.D.: sol.495 Posted: Thu Jul 9 11:59:58 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 12-Jul-87 05:45:47 EDT References: <204600003@prism> <616@neoucom.UUCP> <455@sol.ARPA> <618@neoucom.UUCP> Reply-To: ken@rochester.UUCP (Ken Yap) Organization: U of Rochester, CS Dept, Rochester, NY Lines: 9 |> 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 surface. I should have worded it to mean that the lightning rod preferentially takes the damage in the event a bolt hits because the conduction path is easier via the rod than the structure itself. Ken