So if the path to ground is not the path of least resistance, what does electricity do?
In: Physics
It doesn’t flow that way, unless the potential difference is too great. And you’ve actually seen this happen – it’s lightning.
Clearly, normal air is not a very good conductor, so it’s certainly not the path of least resistance. But you make the potential difference between the ground and the cloud high enough, and it will find a way.
Of course, put up a metal spike and call it a lightning rod, and now it’ll prefer it over your shiny new building. So it does both. Your two statements are not contradictory.
Perhaps, in the spirit of ELI5, it’s best to say this
Water will always flow from a higher point to a lower point. When it does this flow, it will follow the path of least resistance. Sometimes, when there is a lot of resistance, the water may not flow for a bit, but you build up enough potential difference (pile up an ocean of water), and it will overcome any resistance to flow where it wants to.
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