In welding terminology, which of the following refers specifically to the process of welding using a rod that melts and becomes part of the weld?

In welding terminology, the process specifically defined as using a rod that melts and becomes part of the weld is Stick Welding, also known as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW). In this method, a consumable electrode rod is coated with a flux. When the rod is heated by the electric arc created between the electrode and the workpiece, it melts and fuses with the base material, forming the weld bead. This characteristic of the electrode being consumed during the process is what distinguishes Stick Welding from other welding techniques.

FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding) and MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding also involve the use of a filler material, but they typically utilize wire feed techniques rather than a solid rod that melts. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding primarily employs a non-consumable tungsten electrode for the arc and often adds filler material manually, rather than relying on a melting rod to create the weld itself. Thus, the unique element of Stick Welding is its use of a melting rod as an integral part of the welding process.