The short answer is yes. I saw this demonstrated at a local Science Center using a Van der Graff to generate charge. A wand, connected to the Van der Graff was used along with various shaped grounded objects. The high voltage electrical discharge obviously 'preferred' the sharp, pointed object, even though other shapes were closer to the wand, the electrical discharge would travel further to the pointed object. This was both an interesting and dramatic demonstration.

This is why lightning rods are pointed. Lightning rods have a sharp, pointed tip, since electric lines of force are more highly concentrated around pointed objects. If lightning strikes you want it to strike the lightning rod and not the structure the rod is there to protect.

The short answer is yes. I saw this demonstrated at a local Science Center using a Van de Graaff to generate charge. A wand, connected to the Van de Graaff was used along with various shaped grounded objects. The high voltage electrical discharge obviously 'preferred' the sharp, pointed object, even though other shapes were closer to the wand, the electrical discharge would travel further to the pointed object. This was both an interesting and dramatic demonstration.

This is why lightning rods are pointed. Lightning rods have a sharp, pointed tip, since electric lines of force are more highly concentrated around pointed objects. If lightning strikes you want it to strike the lightning rod and not the structure the rod is there to protect.