Why do lightning conductors have spikes on them

Apendulum has a mass of 1.5 kg and starts at a height of 0.4 m. if it is released from rest, how fast is it going when it reaches the lowest point of its path? acceleration due to gravity is g = 9.8 m/s2. a. 2.8 m/s b. 0 m/s c. 5.9 m/s d. 4.3 m/s

Asheet of steel 1.5 mm thick has nitrogen atmospheres on both sides at 1200oc and is permitted to achieve a steady-state diffusion condition. the diffusion coefficient for nitrogen in steel at this temperature is 6 x 10- 11 m2 /s, and the diffusion flux is found to be 1.2 x 10-7 kg/m2 -s. also, it is known that the concentration of nitrogen in the steel at the high-pressure surface is 4 kg/m3 . how far into the sheet from this high-pressure side will the concentration be 2.0 kg/m3 ? assume a linear concentration profile.

Electric field of the earth. the earth has a net electric charge that causes a field at points near its surface equal to 150 n> c and directed in toward the center of the earth. (a) what magnitude and sign of charge would a 60-kg human have to acquire to overcome his or her weight by the force exerted by the earth’s electric field? (b) what would be the force of repulsion between two people each with the charge calculated in part (a) and separated by a distance of 100 m? is use of the earth’s electric field a feasible means of flight? why or why not?