Xref: utzoo comp.misc:2818 sci.electronics:3338
Newsgroups: comp.misc,sci.electronics
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Lightning rods. Was: Protecting computer equipment
Message-ID: <1988Jul19.001029.21225@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <1988Jul8.045005.17867@utzoo.uucp> <6179@aw.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 88 00:10:29 GMT

In article <6179@aw.sei.cmu.edu> rsd@ae.sei.cmu.edu.UUCP (Rich D'Ippolito) writes:
>Ligthning rods work by _preventing_ the buildup of static charges in the
>vicinity of the pointed end...

There is a lot of religious argument about lightning rods and the precise
mechanisms by which they work.  However, it is a verifiable fact that they
really do get hit by lightning, and that they do appear to have a strong
tendency to protect the structure underneath from the worst of the bolt's
effects.  If you look at their history, in fact, such incidents were what
first convinced people that they worked.  Any prevention effect is a bonus.
-- 
Anyone who buys Wisconsin cheese is|  Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
a traitor to mankind.  --Pournelle |uunet!mnetor!utzoo! henry @zoo.toronto.edu