LIGHTNING ROD

Background

It too much electrical energy flows through objects they can overheat and cause fires. Since electrical current prefers the path of least resistance, we can easily protect our homes from the energy in lightning.

Materials Needed

2 batteries in holders
1 breadboard
2 light bulbs 		3 wires with washers
1 paper clip
push pins 		paper
pencil
tape

Procedure

1. Cut a lightning bolt out of paper.

2. Build the simple circuit with 2 light bulbs in series. Tape one bulb on the paper lightning bolt. When this light is lit it will indicate that lightning is striking.

3. Make a house out of paper. Houses tend to be made of wood, bricks, etc. Are these things good conductors?

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4. Put the other light bulb on the house. When this light is lit it will indicate that the house has been damaged by lightning.

5. Simulate lightning striking the house by briefly closing the switch.

6. Now protect the house by building a circuit parallel to the light. This circuit must have resistance that is lower than the house so use just a plain wire.

7. Make lightning strike again by closing the switch. What happens? Why?

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