What is responsible for shaping the weld bead and can also be described as electrical potential?

• A. The current
• B. The wire feed speed
• C. The resistive potential
• D. Voltage

Answer: (D)

Voltage is the electrical potential difference between the electrode and the workpiece, and it mainly determines the arc length and how heat is spread in the weld pool. This directly shapes the weld bead: higher voltage lengthens the arc, distributes heat over a broader area, and tends to produce a wider, flatter bead with less penetration; lower voltage shortens the arc, concentrates heat, and yields a narrower bead with deeper penetration. While current controls the overall heat input and thus penetration, it doesn’t alter the bead’s shape as much. Wire feed speed affects how much filler metal is deposited but not the arc shape set by voltage. A term like resistive potential isn’t used in welding; voltage is the proper term for electrical potential.