Question

Why are lightning conductors pointed in shape?
(A) To reduce mass
(B) It attracts more electric charge due to very small radius and hence small surface area
(C) It allows more current
(D) It repels the incident lightning discharge

Answer 1

Hint: The more the shape of a conductor is pointed more is the charge accumulated per unit surface area at the point that the electric charge gets more attracted at the point leading the electric shock from the lightning into the ground.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
A lightning conductor is a metal rod found at the top of buildings and houses. Its purpose is to save the whole building from lightning. It is supposed to get struck by the lightning and through a wire which is connected to the ground and lightning conductor the current goes in the ground keeping the building or house safe.
Pointed lightning conductors, because of their limited cross-sectional area, attract greater charges. When a charged cloud passes over the lightning rod, it induces an opposite charge. Because the rod's surface area is so small, the surface density of charge is greatly boosted. As a result, the rod attracts the lightning without allowing it to strike any other area of the building or house.
Hence, option B) It attracts more electric charge due to its very small radius and hence small surface area is the correct option.

Note:
Lightning conductors are also round ball-like in shape, they work the same because Small radius curves have a stronger local electric field, eventually forming a localized area where the field is stronger than the air's dielectric strength.