eli5: How does electricity “know” the shortest path

Question

I’ve always heard that electricity follows the shortest path – for instance, lightning will use your body for a conduit if you’re the tallest thing around. How exactly does that work?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

It tests all paths and eventually one path connects and that’s generally where the flow will go.

[I could go on to explain it, however, a visual example will get the point across far better](https://youtu.be/qQKhIK4pvYo?si=BrdpnvIhWWP0lMhu&t=299)