Skip to main content
Ben Franklin

How Ben Franklin Came Up With the Lightning Rod

How Ben Franklin Came Up with the Lightning Rod

Ben Franklin was a brilliant scientist and inventor who made many contributions to society. One of his most famous inventions was the lightning rod.

Franklin was interested in electricity for many years. In 1752, he conducted a famous experiment in which he flew a kite during a thunderstorm. The kite was equipped with a metal key, and Franklin was able to collect electrical charges from the storm cloud. This experiment led Franklin to believe that lightning was a form of electricity.

Franklin’s discovery led him to the idea of the lightning rod. He theorized that a metal rod could be used to safely conduct lightning away from a building. In 1753, Franklin installed the first lightning rod on his own house.

Lightning rods quickly became popular, and they are now used to protect buildings all over the world. They have saved countless lives and property from damage caused by lightning.

Here are some of the key steps that Franklin took in developing the lightning rod:

  1. Observed that lightning and electricity were similar. Franklin noticed that lightning and electricity both produced sparks and could be conducted through metal wires.
  2. Conducted the kite experiment. In 1752, Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm and attached a metal key to it. The key collected electrical charges from the storm cloud, proving that lightning was a form of electricity.
  3. Theorized that a metal rod could be used to safely conduct lightning away from a building. Franklin believed that a metal rod could be used to safely conduct lightning away from a building by providing a path for the electrical current to travel.
  4. Installed the first lightning rod on his own house. In 1753, Franklin installed the first lightning rod on his own house. This proved that lightning rods were effective in protecting buildings from lightning damage.

Franklin’s invention of the lightning rod was a major breakthrough that has saved countless lives and property. It is one of the many examples of his brilliance and ingenuity.