Question

State whether the given statement is True or False :

Lightning conductor cannot protect a building from lightning.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is B False

Answer is False.

The use of a lightning rod on a building protects the building by preventing the lightning strike. The idea is based upon the principle that the electric field strength is great around a pointed object. The intense electric fields surrounding a pointed object serve to ionize the surrounding air, thus enhancing its conductive ability.
As a storm cloud approaches, there is a conductive pathway established between the statically charged cloud and the lightning rod. The static charges gradually migrate along this pathway to the ground, thus reducing the likelihood of a sudden and explosive discharge.
The primary role of a lightning rod is to discharge the cloud over a longer length of time, thus preventing the excessive charge buildup that is characteristic of a lightning strike.
Hence, lightning conductor is a device to protect a building against lightning.