>> Iain Chalmers wrote:

>> >> Watch out for lightning strike!

>> >> --
>> >> Cheers

>> >> Andrew

>> >> (Make a lightning rod by gluing a blunt ferrous rod to the top of the
>> >> motorcycle helmet, attaching a 4 metre length of copper strap to the rod
>> >> with copper wire, and attaching a suitable boat anchor to the free end
>> >> of the strap to make sure it stays earthed - any Windows 98 computer
>> >> would do.)

>> > A _blunt_ rod? Have you been taking physics lessons from Hamish again?

>> > big

><snip>

>> The results of this study suggest that moderately blunt metal rods
>> (with tip height­to­tip radius of curvature ratios of about 680:1) are
>> better lightning strike receptors than are sharper rods or very blunt
>> ones.

>OK, I'm wrong (again)...

>(at least I'm not alone, it does say "It is commonly believed,
>erroneously, that a rod ending in a sharp point at the peak is the
>best"... )

>big