Standing with 2 feet, apart, looking at the lightning, the voltage both feet see is the same, so no current though the body. Turning 90°, the feet now in line with the strike location, they see the maximum voltage difference and current goes through the body.
Think of 2 series resistors and of those 2 in parallel (as the ground before and after the person) and one that connects the 2 parallel ones in between the 2 series ones (body).
– R – ,-- R –
–| R | –
– R --'-- R –
Only if the 2 R top and bottom are different will current flow through the middle resistor (body).
Standing with 2 feet, apart, looking at the lightning, the voltage both feet see is the same, so no current though the body. Turning 90°, the feet now in line with the strike location, they see the maximum voltage difference and current goes through the body.
Think of 2 series resistors and of those 2 in parallel (as the ground before and after the person) and one that connects the 2 parallel ones in between the 2 series ones (body). – R – ,-- R – –| R | – – R --'-- R –
Only if the 2 R top and bottom are different will current flow through the middle resistor (body).