Which statement is true about welding voltage?

• A. It is independent of arc length.
• B. It is governed by arc length between the electrode and workpiece and is influenced by electrode diameter.
• C. It is determined solely by the welding current.
• D. It does not change with electrode diameter.

Answer: (B)

Welding voltage is determined mainly by how far the arc must travel—the arc length. As the gap increases, the arc needs more voltage to sustain the current, so arc voltage rises with arc length. The diameter of the electrode also matters because it changes the arc’s geometry and how the current is carried, which can alter the voltage required to maintain the arc at a given current. So, the statement that welding voltage is governed by arc length and is influenced by electrode diameter is the accurate one. The other ideas ignore the arc length effect, or claim voltage depends only on current, or that electrode size has no impact, all of which aren’t true.