In overhead line terms, which statement best defines the span?

• A. The physical length of the conductor in a single span
• B. The distance between a conductor and the adjacent wire
• C. The height of the support poles
• D. The distance between two adjacent supporting structures

Answer: (D)

Span is the distance between two adjacent supporting structures along an overhead line. This measurement is what governs how much the conductor will sag between those supports and how much tension is needed. The actual length of conductor between the supports is longer than the span because the wire sags, so the span isn’t simply the wire’s length. The other ideas describe the wire-to-wire clearance, or the height of the poles, neither of which defines what a span is. The best definition is the distance between two adjacent supporting structures.