Question

A tall pole and a short pole are next to each other. Why is lighting more likely to strike the tall pole?

Answer 1

Air is a bad conductor of electricity so whatever is closest that will get the lightening to the ground first, it strikes. Therefore, the lightening would sense the tall pole first, and use it as it's conductor.

Answer 2

The tall pole, the lighting will hit whatever it "senses" first. So therefore the tall pole.