Principle of lightining conductor

[logearav]

friends,
in lightining conductor, a metal plate with number of spikes is connected to the top end of the conductor and kept at the top of the building.
when a negatively charged cloud passes over the building , positive charge is induced on the pointed conductor. the positive charge ionise the air in the vicinity.
What happens next? how the negative charge of the cloud is neutralized
thanks in advance

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi logearav!

A lightning conductor attracts lightning …

the idea is to get the lightning to go through the conductor, safely to earth, instead of into the building!

For details, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_rod

 

[astrokreng]

The principle of a lightning conductor is based on the concept of grounding. When a negatively charged cloud passes over a building, it induces a positive charge on the pointed conductor. This positive charge ionizes the air in the vicinity, creating a pathway for the negative charge of the cloud to be neutralized.

As the lightning bolt travels towards the ground, it is attracted to the positively charged conductor on the building, which provides a direct path for the lightning to travel safely to the ground. The spikes on the conductor help to disperse the electrical charge and prevent any damage to the building.

The negative charge of the cloud is neutralized as it travels through the conductor and into the ground, where it is safely dissipated. This process helps to protect the building and its occupants from the destructive force of lightning strikes.

In summary, the principle of a lightning conductor is to provide a safe and direct path for the lightning to travel to the ground, neutralizing the negative charge of the cloud and preventing damage to the building.