Lightning rods are metal rods installed on structures to protect them from lightning strikes. They work by providing a low-resistance path for lightning to travel to the ground, rather than through the structure itself.

When lightning strikes, it is looking for the nearest and easiest path to the ground. If there is a lightning rod nearby, the lightning will travel down the rod and into the ground, bypassing the structure. This is because the metal rod is a better conductor of electricity than the surrounding air.

The high-speed camera image shows the path of lightning as it travels down a lightning rod. The image shows that the lightning travels in a very thin, bright channel. This channel is called a leader stroke. The leader stroke is followed by a much larger and brighter stroke called the main stroke. The main stroke is what causes the thunder that we hear during a lightning storm.

The image also shows that the lightning rod is not completely effective in preventing the structure from being struck by lightning. The lightning rod can only protect the structure if the lightning strikes within a certain radius of the rod. If the lightning strikes outside of this radius, the structure can still be struck.

Despite this limitation, lightning rods are still an effective way to protect structures from lightning strikes. They can help to prevent fires, structural damage, and injuries to people.