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Electricity seeks the path of lowest resistance. Arcing to a tall (typically wet) thing usually has a much lower electrical resistance than arcing through the air to the ground.
Last time I read about it we were not entirely sure how electrical paths are "chosen" by lightning - speculation includs air ionized by cosmic rays or some such thing - but if that path comes close enough to a tall object it will be a preferred path.
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How did the lightning rod improve peoples lives?
The lightning rod (USA), lightning conductor (UK) is a metal rod that is placed on the top of tall buildings. A metal cable or strap connects the conductor to another metal rod sunk deep into the earth. The principle is that should lightning strike the building, it is attracted to the conductor and travels down the cable to be dissipated safely into the earth - so saving the building from lightning damage. Wooden building used to burn down under stikes from lightening. The lighten rod (Ben Franklin) gives the electricity a easy path to the ground instead of a heat-producing path through wood.
Which one of benjerman Franklins inventions protected us from lightning?
The kite and rod was his demonstration. In modern terms it is a lightning conductor or a lightning arrester. This is usually a metal (copper, or iron) rod placed at the very top of tall buildings, church steeples, tall industrial chimneys.
Does electricity follow the longest path?
no. electricity seeks the shortest path with the lowest resistance. An example will be lightning. A tall building offers a lower resistance than air or even moist air in a storm. Hence, the lightning strikes the tall building more likely than it hits the ground surrounding the tall building.
Experiment to prove acceleration due to gravity is independent of mass?
Repeat Galileo's experiment: drop two objects of different weight, from a tall building. Don't make the objects too small, otherwise, air resistance will interfere with your experiments.Repeat Galileo's experiment: drop two objects of different weight, from a tall building. Don't make the objects too small, otherwise, air resistance will interfere with your experiments.Repeat Galileo's experiment: drop two objects of different weight, from a tall building. Don't make the objects too small, otherwise, air resistance will interfere with your experiments.Repeat Galileo's experiment: drop two objects of different weight, from a tall building. Don't make the objects too small, otherwise, air resistance will interfere with your experiments.
Falling objects drop with an average acceleration of 9.8ms squared If an object falls from a tall building how long will it take before it reaches a speed of 49 ms?
5 seconds
Why is a tree not safe during lightning?
Lightning tends to strike tall objects such as trees. When lightning does strike a tree it can kill or injure people and animals underneath it.
Does lightning strike tall objects because it wants to find a path of least resistance?
Yes.
How do you overcome lightning?
Stay as low as you can because the lightning will strike tall things.
What causes lightning to strike certain areas?
Normally lightning will more likely strike areas that are higher in elevation and objects that are good conductors of electricity. The path from cloud to ground is shorter and the required potential is lower. Thus, lightning frequently hits tall hills, tall buildings, and tall trees. Lightning also finds the easiest way to get to the ground without having to cross as much of the atmosphere. Except when ionized, air is not a good conductor. Lightning rods are designed to prevent damage to structures. They give the electric charges an easy path to the ground.
Why are lightning conductors fixed to tall buildings?
Probably a Lightning Conductor. They say , in a Bad Storm, lightning will strike the Tallest building first. Cheers.
Why can't you be under a tree when it is thundering?
Lightning tends to strike tall objects such as trees. If the tree you are under is hit by lightning, the charge may travel through the ground and into you, which can seriously injure or kill you. Additionally, lightning sometimes flash-boils the sap in a tree, causing it to explode. This, too can injure or kill you.
Would a lightning rod mounted on the first floor of a tall building work?
No. Since lightning often strikes tall objects first the lightning rod on the first floor would not allow the current to be safely sent to the ground.
Why lighting strike same spot twice?
Lightning commonly strikes the same place many times. Lightning is static electricity, generated in the collisions between the clouds. The lightning wants to ground itself by striking something with a good electrical pathway to the earth. That could be a tall tree, or a steeple, or a house chimney, or any tall object that will intercept the lightning strike and bring it to ground. Lightning will strike twice if the same place it struck before is still a good, high, electrical path to the ground, and if no better places have been built.
Will lightning strike a person rather than a tree?
Most likely dependeing on how mighty the charge of the person is and how tall is the tree
Why it is advised to take shelter under a tree during lighting?
It isn't. The advise is NOT to take shelter under a tree. Lightning tends to strike tall objects such as trees. A person standing near a tree that gets hit by lightning may be electrocuted. Trees may even explode when hit by lighting, which is another hazard.
What is the function of lighting conductor on tall building?
Prevent lightning strikes by creating a cone of discharged air around the building. Should it actually be struck by a lightning bolt it will almost certainly be damaged and may melt possibly causing a small fire on the outside wall, it should be inspected and will likely need to be replaced to continue to provide lightning protection.
Will lightning strike a farris wheel first?
Lightning tends to strike the tallest object in the vicinity. Since Ferris wheels are very tall that does make them a likely target, though other, taller features may still have a higher chance of being hit.
