Do television antennas attract lightning?

Question

Did i make the right call having it removed?

Answer 1

I wouldn't feel anxious, the antenna may attract lightning but since it is not grounded to earth it is more of a hazard and no longer serves any purpose.  You did the right thing in removing it.

Answer 2

Metal as opposed to air.

This sounds kind-of simplistic but it is true.

Lightning/electricity will take the path of least resistance.

Metal is much less resistant to electricity than air so it would much rather go though that.

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regroup

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During the next thunderstorm - imagine you holding up a 500 ft piece of metal and a friend holding up a 500 ft piece of plastic.

If lightning strikes - it much prefers the metal as it travels through there no problem.

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Television antennas attract lightning yes.  But a longer television antenna would attract more than a short one.

Again - all that lightning wants to do is to get where its going with the least resistance.

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If you and a friend were standing in a thunderstorm with no antennas, no plastic, no anything except for your height....

if you are 6'1" and they are 5'7", the lightning would pick you (assuming you all are close enough on flat land) as 6'1" would be the lesser of the resistance.

Finally, attract is a word that doesn't really describe what is going on.

Lightning is not attracted to anything.  It will go the path of least resistance.  There is no attraction - just physics.

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Also, lightning goes from Earth to sky as Earth has less resistance than the sky.  Lightning in that case would not be attracted to the antenna but it would be "attracted" to the sky through the antenna.

Answer 3

It could if it is the highest point around. Lightning will strike anything, and being tall adds to it's chance.

Answer 4

This is a good question to ask at  http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Light... . Check the links, files, and search the messages for info.

One thing to note is that lightning is not attracted to..., rather it finds one or more of the easiest paths to complete its circuit.

Answer 5

Many TV antennas are grounded. (a wire is run all the way down to the ground in case of a lightning strike)  Yes, they do attract lightning.

Answer 6

The tallest electrically conductive object will attract lightning.

Some people take comfort in knowing where the lightning

will strike.  Lightning rods (properly erected) can protect you.

Your antenna wasn't likely to offer much protection.  Anywhere

that receives rain is prone to lightning. Relax, you didn't place

yourself at risk.