What term describes the angle the electrode makes in welding?

• A. The angle the electrode makes along the weld
• B. The angle the electrode makes in the plane at right angles to the weld
• C. The angle the base metal is tilted
• D. The angle of travel along the weld

Answer: (A)

The term describes how the electrode is tilted along the length of the weld—the orientation in the direction of the seam. This along-weld angle (often called the longitudinal angle) matters because it governs how the molten metal fills and advances along the bead, influencing the bead shape and fusion quality. Tilt in this direction controls how far ahead the heat and metal are deposited along the weld line, shaping the final weld bead.

The other angles refer to different orientations: the angle in the plane perpendicular to the weld is a transverse angle that affects side-to-side alignment; the base metal tilt is about the workpiece itself, not the electrode; and the angle of travel describes the movement direction along the weld, not how the electrode sits relative to the seam.