How does a lightning strike not vaporize a person when struck?

Question

A lightning strike usually has millions of volts and millions to hundreds of thousands of amps. How does this energy not vaporize a person? I use to think it did when I was young but hearing about all these people surviving lightning strikes I'm baffled.

Is it because the human body can conduct? If so then how does a squierrel get fried if it touches two power wires? Since the human is in a similar condition acting as a conductor with the bolt coming from the cloud through the human to the ground.

Answer 1

I think that when you are grounded, you're more likely to survive, because the current goes to ground, rather than your entire body.

In Physics class last year, my teacher asked this student to hold a metal rod, and he putt his elbow on the arm that was holding onto the rod around the metal faucet of a sink. He then made the rod touch a Van Der Graff generator, and the kid could feel the current go through his arm. The reason why he survived was because he was grounded and the current didn't go through his torso, allowing him to not die or go into cardiac arrest.

So if a squirrel touches a power line, where does it go? Through his body, and probably damaging his heart.

Answer 2

it is only electricity.

Answer 3

I would say because a person is not grounded, so the current passes through. Some don't make it.

Answer 4

Ask my brother, he's been hit twice!