Hikers choose the easy way to cross hills.

The path of least resistance describes the physical or metaphorical pathway which provides the least resistance to forward motion by a given object or entity, among a set of alternative paths. The concept is often used to describe why an object or entity takes a given path. Image File history File links Cartoon_mountain_pass_symbolizing_path_of_least_resistance. ... Image File history File links Cartoon_mountain_pass_symbolizing_path_of_least_resistance. ...

In physics, the path of least resistance is always taken by objects moving through a system. For example, water flowing downhill follows the path of least resistance as it is pulled downward by gravity. Electricity flowing through a circuit behaves similarly, preferentially following paths with lesser electrical resistance. Atmospheric disturbances (storms) flow on the path of least resistance by flowing toward zones of low barometric pressure, where lower air density offers less impedance to the storm system than higher pressure zones. A black hole concept drawing by NASA. Physics (from the Greek, φυσικός (physikos), natural, and φύσις (physis), nature) is the science of the natural world dealing with the fundamental constituents of the universe, the forces they exert on one another, and the results produced by these forces. ... It has been suggested that gravitation be merged into this article or section. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... An electrical network or electrical circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, switches and transistors. ... Electrical resistance is a measure of the degree to which an electrical component opposes the passage of current. ... Atmosphere is the general name for a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass. ... A rolling thundercloud over Enschede, Netherlands Heavy storm brought by Typhoon Sanvu in Hong Kong. ... Atmospheric pressure is the pressure caused by the weight of air above any area in the Earths atmosphere. ... The density of air, ρ (Greek: rho) (air density), is the mass per volume of Earths atmosphere, and is a useful value in aeronautics. ...

One exception to this rule is in the realm of quantum physics, where particles behave in a probabilistic rather than deterministic manner. Fig. ... The word probability derives from the Latin probare (to prove, or to test). ... Put simply, causal determinism expresses the belief that every effect has a cause, and therefore science, pursued diligently enough, will explain all natural phenomena and thus produce a TOE (Theory of Everything). ...

The path of least resistance is also used to describe certain human behaviors, although with much less specificity than in the strict physical sense. In these cases, resistance is often used as a metaphor for personal effort or confrontation; a person taking the path of least resistance avoids these. In language, a metaphor (from the Greek: metapherin) is a rhetorical trope defined as a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated subjects. ...

An important note to the concept of the path of least resistance is that it applies on a local, not global, reference. For example, water always flows downhill, regardless of whether briefly flowing uphill will help it gain a lower final altitude. In physics, this phenomenon allows the formation of potential wells, where potential energy is stored because of a barrier restricting flow to a lower energy state. A potential well is the region surrounding a local minimum of potential energy. ... Potential energy is stored energy. ...