spatial distance

The separation distance required to maintain insulation between conductors. While creepage distance refers to the distance along the surface of an object such as a substrate, clearance refers to the shortest straight-line distance between conductors. Many safety standards for electronic equipment specify the required clearance to maintain necessary insulation performance. When air serves as the insulating material, clearance becomes an important factor in maintaining insulation. As the potential difference increases, dielectric breakdown is more likely to occur, and therefore a greater clearance is required.