On 1 Apr 2005 20:56:09 GMT, Ignoramus9970 wrote:
On 1 Apr 2005 12:51:15 -0800, wrote:
When the thunderstorm passes into the area and starts inducing electric
charge on buildings, the charge density at the tip of the lighning rod
becomes so intense as to leak current. This, in turn, dissipates the
field. Exactly what we want to accomplish. (Thank you, Benjamin
Franklin!) At the voltages we're dealing with here, this would be true
whether or not the lighning rod were grounded. But the current to
(from?) the rod must travel through something, and if the reisitance of
what it must travel through is great, its voltage will rise to that of
the air, ending its effectiveness at dissipating the charge. Hence,
the rod must be grounded sufficiently to conduct whatever current it
must, or else it will end up attracting lightning.

Would be interesting to put an amp meter (clamp on or coil) on the
conductor from the rod to the ground.

For a very short time, anyway Then again, you do have some pretty large
electrical toys, don't you...