WMD STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/2026 GRADED A+
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
Low explosives - velocity of explosion is less than the speed of sound (343.2 m/s or
1,126 ft/s); reactions are subsonic; cannot support a detonation wave; typically are
mixtures; *confinement required*
High explosives - detonate with a velocity greater than 3300 ft/s (~1000 m/s); usually a
compound (TNT); support a detonation wave; *confinement not needed*
High-velocity high explosives - detonate with a velocity greater than TNT (6900 m/s)
Primary explosives - extremely sensitive to heat, shock, and friction and are often
utilized in blasting caps (e.g., mercury fulminate and lead picrate), have less energy
than secondary explosives
Secondary explosives - less volatile than primary explosives and not ignited by spark,
flame, or hot wire. (e.g., TNT, RDX, and PETN), more powerful than primary explosives,
require a detonator or booster to function, used in larger quantities
Blasting agents - even less sensitive to heat, shock, and friction and not ignited by #8
blasting cap
Gun propellents - usually single base, nitrocellulose (NC), double base, adding
nitroglycerine (NC and NG), or triple base (NC, NG, and nitroguanidine (NQ))
Pyrotechnics - include illuminating flares, colored and white smoke generators, and
photo-flash compounds and usually are composed of an inorganic oxidizer and metal
powder in a binder. *Fireworks*
High order detonation - the explosive functions as designed and is totally consumed
upon detonation
Low order detonation - explosive partially consumed upon detonation
Possible reasons for low order detonation - weather conditions (humidity), incompatible
explosives, or improper placement of detonator
, Explosive trains - a chain of explosions, each with sufficient energy to ignite/detonate
the next link in the chain
Time fuse - provides a time delay before ignition, and they more often than not are used
to initiate an explosive detonator, thereby starting an explosive chain reaction to
detonate a larger, more stable main charge. Burn rate= ~40 s/ft, requires
hygroscopicity, black interior
Two types of blasting caps - electric or non-electric
Detonation cord - Thin, flexible tube with an explosive (usually PETN) core, high-speed
fuse which explodes rather than burns, suitable for detonating high explosives, white
interior
Forensic anomaly - an item from outside the scene can end up within it
Primary fragmentation - originates from the device itself
Secondary fragmentation - items in close proximity to the device (rocks, glass, etc.)
entrained in the shock wave
Friction test - line explosive powder placed on metal plate, metal wheel forced down on
plate with a hydraulic press, metal plate then struck with pendulum; How far does the
steel wheel have to go down to touch the explosive?
Blasting caps - contain ~1 gram of energetic material
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)
2025/2026 GRADED A+
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
Low explosives - velocity of explosion is less than the speed of sound (343.2 m/s or
1,126 ft/s); reactions are subsonic; cannot support a detonation wave; typically are
mixtures; *confinement required*
High explosives - detonate with a velocity greater than 3300 ft/s (~1000 m/s); usually a
compound (TNT); support a detonation wave; *confinement not needed*
High-velocity high explosives - detonate with a velocity greater than TNT (6900 m/s)
Primary explosives - extremely sensitive to heat, shock, and friction and are often
utilized in blasting caps (e.g., mercury fulminate and lead picrate), have less energy
than secondary explosives
Secondary explosives - less volatile than primary explosives and not ignited by spark,
flame, or hot wire. (e.g., TNT, RDX, and PETN), more powerful than primary explosives,
require a detonator or booster to function, used in larger quantities
Blasting agents - even less sensitive to heat, shock, and friction and not ignited by #8
blasting cap
Gun propellents - usually single base, nitrocellulose (NC), double base, adding
nitroglycerine (NC and NG), or triple base (NC, NG, and nitroguanidine (NQ))
Pyrotechnics - include illuminating flares, colored and white smoke generators, and
photo-flash compounds and usually are composed of an inorganic oxidizer and metal
powder in a binder. *Fireworks*
High order detonation - the explosive functions as designed and is totally consumed
upon detonation
Low order detonation - explosive partially consumed upon detonation
Possible reasons for low order detonation - weather conditions (humidity), incompatible
explosives, or improper placement of detonator
, Explosive trains - a chain of explosions, each with sufficient energy to ignite/detonate
the next link in the chain
Time fuse - provides a time delay before ignition, and they more often than not are used
to initiate an explosive detonator, thereby starting an explosive chain reaction to
detonate a larger, more stable main charge. Burn rate= ~40 s/ft, requires
hygroscopicity, black interior
Two types of blasting caps - electric or non-electric
Detonation cord - Thin, flexible tube with an explosive (usually PETN) core, high-speed
fuse which explodes rather than burns, suitable for detonating high explosives, white
interior
Forensic anomaly - an item from outside the scene can end up within it
Primary fragmentation - originates from the device itself
Secondary fragmentation - items in close proximity to the device (rocks, glass, etc.)
entrained in the shock wave
Friction test - line explosive powder placed on metal plate, metal wheel forced down on
plate with a hydraulic press, metal plate then struck with pendulum; How far does the
steel wheel have to go down to touch the explosive?
Blasting caps - contain ~1 gram of energetic material
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)
