Does the human body have a higher chance of being struck by lightning then a regular house?

Question

Does the human body have a higher chance of being struck by lightning then a regular house?

Answer 1

No, human body has less chance of being hit by lighting.

Normally most of the houses are grounded, thus its a better patch for Electricity to travel than through human body as Human body isn't very good conductor of electricity.

Secondly Houses are taller, thus lighting has to travel less through air (which is very bad conductor of electricity), normally when lighting or electricity travels through something that is low conductor of electricity then it loses energy in form or heat and light and it doesn't want to do that.

Thus house being taller and house being grounded and better conductor, lighting would choose house rather than human, unless that guy is totally out of luck.

:)

Answer 2

Now that's an interesting question.  Let's look at the things that make each attractive to lightning:

1. Both give off heat, and lighting is attracted to heat.

2. Your body is full of water, and that attracts electricity.

3. Your house is taller than your body, so that favors the house.

4. Your house covers more area than you, so that favors the house.

5. Your house can't get away from the storm, so that favors your house.

All and all, I'd say there is more chance that your house would be struck than you.

Answer 3

I would assume the horse would have a better chance since most of them are taller then us and they have a longer body open to the sky then a person standing straight up.

So I would say a horse does