A lightning rod (or lightning protector) is a metal strip or rod, usually of copper or similar conductive material, used as part of lightning safety to protect tall or isolated structures (such as the roof of a building or the mast of a vessel) from lightning damage.Its formal name is lightning finial or air terminal.uite simply, actually. The rod is made of a type of metal that is a very good conductor. Lightning will be attracted to the rod, which is the path of least resistance. From t … here, the electricity passes down the rod, which is stuck in the ground, where the electricity is displaced.