[Antennas] Antenna Balls

[Tim]

Someone asked me today "What is the purpose of the little ball at the end of
a mobile antenna? Someone told me that if I cut it off to tune my antenna I
will ruin the antenna."

As embarrassing as it is the only answer I could give was "Well I see no
reason why you cannot cut off the ball to tune the antenna and the only
reason I know of that the ball is there is for static dissipation/control
and improve the antenna
efficiency by not ending the antenna in an abrupt point"

I have never really questioned it so I really was not prepared to answer the
question with any authority, but I said I would try to find an answer.

You Gurus of the Radiant arts help me out here.