Lightning rod

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A lightning rod or lightning conductor (British English) is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect it from a lightning strike. If lightning hits the structure, it is most likely to strike the rod and be conducted to ground through a wire, rather than passing through the structure, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution. In technical documents, lightning rods are generally referred to as 'strike termination devices'. In a lightning protection system, a lightning rod is a single component of the system. The lightning rod requires a connection to the earth to perform its protective function. Lightning rods come in many different forms, including hollow, solid, pointed, rounded, flat strips, or bristle brush-like. All lightning rods must be made of conductive materials, such as copper and aluminum. Copper and its alloys are the most common materials used in lightning protection.

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