A lightning rod with sharp tip reduces damage risk. Which one of the following is the primary reason for it?

A lightning rod with a sharp tip operates on the principle of "action of points". In electrostatics, the electric field (E) near the surface of a conductor is inversely proportional to its radius of curvature. Because a sharp tip has an extremely small radius, the local electric field becomes intense enough to ionize the surrounding air molecules.

This ionization leads to a continuous corona discharge (also known as point discharge). This discharge serves two purposes: it can partially neutralize the charge in the overhead clouds and, crucially, it initiates an "upward leader" of ionized air. This leader provides a preferred, low-resistance path for the lightning strike, ensuring the current is diverted through the rod to the ground rather than through the building structure. Option B is incorrect because the sharp tip increases the field, and Option D is scientifically inaccurate.