Final answer:
The first two digits in the AWS electrode classification number indicate the minimum tensile strength of the welding electrode, measured in thousands of pounds per square inch (psi).
Step-by-step explanation:
The first two digits in the AWS electrode classification number designate the tensile strength of the electrode. In the American Welding Society (AWS) system, the number is used to identify various characteristics of the welding electrode. For example, an AWS classification of E6010 indicates that the electrode has a minimum tensile strength of 60,000 psi. The '60' in the classification refers to this strength level. Similarly, an electrode with a classification of E7018 would have a minimum tensile strength of 70,000 psi. The AWS number also provides information about the welding position, the type of flux coating, and other essential properties, but it is those first two digits that tell us the electrode's tensile strength.