WMD END OF COURSE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/2026 GRADED A+
Boosters - required to facilitate the safety-driven development non-detonator-sensitive
explosives (blasting agents), designed to be used in a detonation train between the
initiator and main charge, *serve to amplify the detonation wave of the primary initiator
to detonate a less sensitive main charge* (TNT, RDX, Tetryl)
Black powder - black granular explosive resembling small lumps of coal; composed of
potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal
Nitroglycerin (NG) - extremely sensitive to heat and shock, can dilate blood vessels
Cyclo-trimethylene trinitramine (RDX) - research development explosive, bullet safe,
combined with plasticizers to form C-4, a component of Semtex-H
Trinitrotoluene (TNT) - one of the most important military and commercial explosives in
the world, threshold for high-velocity high explosives, not affected by water (i.e., works
in the rain and under water)
Pentaerythrivol tetra nitrate (PETN) - high brisance without extreme sensitivity, not
bullet safe, used as a base in detonators, used in detonating cords, a component of
Semtex- H
Semtex H - comprised of 50% PETN and 50% RDX
Acetone peroxide (TATP) - notable as a secondary high explosive not containing
nitrogen, the extreme shock, heat, and friction sensitivity are due to the chemical
instability of the molecule, can be made at home
HMTD - Common homemade explosive and has been used throughout the world in
suicide as well as placed-device bombings
Binary explosives - formed by mixing two commercially manufactured prepackaged
chemical ingredients (neither of which is an explosive on its own), relatively safe and
can be put behind targets so that you know you've hit it
ANFO - Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil, generally pink in color, low velocity high explosive,
requires a booster
Land mines - normally used to deny access to a route or position
Pipe bombs - metal or plastic pipe wit end caps for containment, propellent main charge
(gun powder), electric match or hot-wire initiator, simple timing mechanism, may include
shrapnel dimension
, Bomb suit - a body ensemble that protects the bomb technician from threats associated
with IEDS, including those related to fragmentation, blast overpressure, impact, heat,
and flame
Mitochondrial DNA - DNA found in the mitochondria that is inherited only through
mothers
What to look for during forensic examination - power sources, conductor, switches,
improvised switches, detonators (electric), detonators (improvised)
Looks for organic molecules - Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry & Liquid
Chromatography-Mass spectrometry
Looks for inorganic molecules - Capillary Electrophoresis & Ion Chromatography
How to tell if something is made continuously or one time - Nitrogen Stable-Isotopic
Mass Spectrometry
Isotopic fractionation - will occur during any synthesis reaction in which not all of the
substrate is consumed during synthesis and because different isotopes of the same
element have a different mass
Ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) stoichiometric mixture - 94% AN; 6% Fuel Oil
1970 U. of Wisconsin Bombing - first application of ANFO in an improvised mixture
Ammonium nitrate/Nitromethane (ANNM) stoichiometric mixture - 60% AN; 40% NM
Who conducts the fuselage test? - TSA Explosives Unit
How can TSA "see" a shoe bomb today? - They use computed axial tomography based
systems that are enhanced with dedicated software, containing an explosives threat
library and false-color coding
Potential problems/issues occurring during/shortly after take-off - power failure
(electrical or thrust), bird strike, weather (wind shear), icing of wings, pilot error, an IED
Potential problems/issues occurring mid-flight (i.e., at altitude) - catastrophic mechanical
failure, missile strike, pilot suicide, an IED
Fission - splitting of a large atom's nucleus
Fusion - Joining of two small atoms' nuclei
Detonation velocity - the speed of an explosive measured in feet per second at which
explosive energy propagates through the explosive material itself
2025/2026 GRADED A+
Boosters - required to facilitate the safety-driven development non-detonator-sensitive
explosives (blasting agents), designed to be used in a detonation train between the
initiator and main charge, *serve to amplify the detonation wave of the primary initiator
to detonate a less sensitive main charge* (TNT, RDX, Tetryl)
Black powder - black granular explosive resembling small lumps of coal; composed of
potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal
Nitroglycerin (NG) - extremely sensitive to heat and shock, can dilate blood vessels
Cyclo-trimethylene trinitramine (RDX) - research development explosive, bullet safe,
combined with plasticizers to form C-4, a component of Semtex-H
Trinitrotoluene (TNT) - one of the most important military and commercial explosives in
the world, threshold for high-velocity high explosives, not affected by water (i.e., works
in the rain and under water)
Pentaerythrivol tetra nitrate (PETN) - high brisance without extreme sensitivity, not
bullet safe, used as a base in detonators, used in detonating cords, a component of
Semtex- H
Semtex H - comprised of 50% PETN and 50% RDX
Acetone peroxide (TATP) - notable as a secondary high explosive not containing
nitrogen, the extreme shock, heat, and friction sensitivity are due to the chemical
instability of the molecule, can be made at home
HMTD - Common homemade explosive and has been used throughout the world in
suicide as well as placed-device bombings
Binary explosives - formed by mixing two commercially manufactured prepackaged
chemical ingredients (neither of which is an explosive on its own), relatively safe and
can be put behind targets so that you know you've hit it
ANFO - Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil, generally pink in color, low velocity high explosive,
requires a booster
Land mines - normally used to deny access to a route or position
Pipe bombs - metal or plastic pipe wit end caps for containment, propellent main charge
(gun powder), electric match or hot-wire initiator, simple timing mechanism, may include
shrapnel dimension
, Bomb suit - a body ensemble that protects the bomb technician from threats associated
with IEDS, including those related to fragmentation, blast overpressure, impact, heat,
and flame
Mitochondrial DNA - DNA found in the mitochondria that is inherited only through
mothers
What to look for during forensic examination - power sources, conductor, switches,
improvised switches, detonators (electric), detonators (improvised)
Looks for organic molecules - Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry & Liquid
Chromatography-Mass spectrometry
Looks for inorganic molecules - Capillary Electrophoresis & Ion Chromatography
How to tell if something is made continuously or one time - Nitrogen Stable-Isotopic
Mass Spectrometry
Isotopic fractionation - will occur during any synthesis reaction in which not all of the
substrate is consumed during synthesis and because different isotopes of the same
element have a different mass
Ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) stoichiometric mixture - 94% AN; 6% Fuel Oil
1970 U. of Wisconsin Bombing - first application of ANFO in an improvised mixture
Ammonium nitrate/Nitromethane (ANNM) stoichiometric mixture - 60% AN; 40% NM
Who conducts the fuselage test? - TSA Explosives Unit
How can TSA "see" a shoe bomb today? - They use computed axial tomography based
systems that are enhanced with dedicated software, containing an explosives threat
library and false-color coding
Potential problems/issues occurring during/shortly after take-off - power failure
(electrical or thrust), bird strike, weather (wind shear), icing of wings, pilot error, an IED
Potential problems/issues occurring mid-flight (i.e., at altitude) - catastrophic mechanical
failure, missile strike, pilot suicide, an IED
Fission - splitting of a large atom's nucleus
Fusion - Joining of two small atoms' nuclei
Detonation velocity - the speed of an explosive measured in feet per second at which
explosive energy propagates through the explosive material itself
