What Is a Lightning Rod and In what way Does It Work?

Patrickleidig
3 min readMay 16, 2019

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If lightning strikes a structure, the electricity can cause a fire or can electrocute anyone that is nearby. But how can people protect themselves against one of several strongest and most unpredictable forces of nature? A lightning rod, also known as a finial or air terminal, is a straightforward device that can protect all sorts of structures from electrical damage throughout a storm.
The facts?
A finial is often a metal rod which is mounted on the top of a building or any other structure which needs to be shielded from lightning, including bridges and ships. They are able to can be found in great shape in addition to straight rods, including rounded, pointed, or flat. They could be hollow or solid, which enable it to even be consisting of bristles, much like a brush. Whatever form they come in, the metal spikes draw the electrical charge from your lightning strike, diverting the energy by transferring it down through a wire attached to the device.

What makes It Work?
A fairly easy lightning rod depends upon three integral pieces — the metal rod, a wire, as well as a grounded absorber. If the finial is struck, the facility naturally travels along the conductive wire, that’s made up of a conductive material, and in to a ground. The floor, also referred to as an earth, is another bit of metal that is certainly driven to the actual ground. Came from here the electricity disperses without causing damage to the structure. However, if homeowners suspect their rod has been hit, they need to always be sure to examine their property for any damage since quite a lot of energy may be transferred.
Buildings that require extra protection may use something made up of a number of these devices that have been networked together through bonding conductors, connectors, and supports. The conductors are then coupled to the ground from the most direct path, making sure that the facility is distributed out of the building as fast as possible.
History of the Lightning Rod
Benjamin Franklin, the United States’ pioneer of electricity, designed the first lightning rod. He first came up with the concept in 1749, as well as over the next decade, he developed the idea in a usable household product. In reality, early incarnations of the device were known as a Franklin rod. There is some evidence how the first lightning rod was utilized over a tower in Russia during the early 18th century, before Benjamin Franklin’s invention, but there’s no concrete proof this was the aim of the style.
Following your standby time with the finial had become common, folks the 19th Century begun to utilize them as decorative accents for houses. They were often decorated with glass balls, that have been both attractive and served to alert occupants which a strike had occurred, because balls would shatter when hit.
Because of this ingenious device, people is now able to rest comfortably throughout an electrical storm and relish the awesome display of nature’s power without having to worry actually in peril.
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