how is lightning conductor working?
Answers
During a thunderstorm charges collect on clouds until a field which is more than the air's dielectric strength is created. Because now there is a potential difference between the ground (0 Volts) and the clouds, electric current flows through the now conducting air. If there is a building, it is conducting and thus at same potential as the earth - as is its lightning conductor. So when there exists a potential difference between the clouds, and the lightning conductor and building both, why does current only flow through the former? My teacher said it's because the lightning conductor is closer to the clouds, so the resistance of the conducting medium air (which is proportional to length) is lesser, the current that flows through to the conductor is greater so it conducts away most of the charge. But the conductor is not very much closer to the cloud as compared to the building - it's only a bit taller. Also the charges on the cloud I think are too high to be conducted away quickly by just the conductor so none are left over for the building to conduct - the charges will I think (if this were the real explanation) flow through both the same time and not wait till most was conducted away by the conductor.
Answer:
Lightning are electrical discharge which occurs when positively charged particles in the clouds come in contact with negatively charged particles.
A lightning conductor is a metal rod fixed at the highest part of a building and running down the wall of the building with the end buried deep into the earth. The electrical discharge of lightning is captured and carried safely by this rod into the ground and prevent the building from being damage.