AWR 160- module 6 UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
low explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - Low explosives are compositions designed to
burn rapidly and intensely. Examples include some fireworks content, black powder, and
smokeless powders.
Historically, low explosives have been used in the majority of bombings in the U.S. Normally,
low explosives will burn rapidly when unconfined, but an explosion can occur when they are
sufficiently confined.
high explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - High explosives are compositions designed to
detonate at a rate of more than 0.62 mi./sec. (1,000 m/s). Examples include the following:
Military explosives (e.g., C-4 and TNT)
Commercial explosives (e.g., dynamite; Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil [ANFO], slurries, and gels)
Improvised explosives (e.g., Triacetone Triperoxide [TATP] and Hexamethylene Triperoxide
Diamine [HMTD])
high explosive: primary explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary explosives are
extremely sensitive and extremely dangerous because they are designed to initiate with slight
impulse. Primary explosives are used to detonate secondary explosives but can also be used as
the main charge. Simply turning a lid on a container of primary explosives or stepping on small
quantities can cause detonation. Almost all detonators contain primary explosives.
high explosives: secondary explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - In general, secondary
explosives are much less sensitive than primary explosives. They are more commonly used as
the main charge and are designed to withstand handling. Examples include TNT, C-4, and
dynamite. Detonation of secondary explosives requires tremendous energy levels normally
created by another explosion, usually primary explosives in the blasting cap. Though designed to
require the shock of a blasting cap for initiation, small quantities of these explosives can be
detonated by shock, friction, or heat.
high explosives: tertiary explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - Based on ammonium nitrate
and ammonium perchlorate, these explosives are also called blasting agents. The individual
compounds are not explosive; they become explosive only when mixed together. Tertiary
, explosives are extremely insensitive, requiring high explosive boosters to initiate detonation. A
blasting cap will not generally initiate them. Usually, a large quantity (i.e., approximately 0.5 lb.
[226.79 g]) of a secondary explosive or booster is needed. For example, a stick of dynamite can
be used to initiate a tertiary explosive.
stimuli for explosions - CORRECT ANSWER - heat, friction, impact/shock, static
electricity, radio frequency (RF)
Heat - CORRECT ANSWER - Heat, in this context, refers to temperature. Each explosive
has a burn temperature and a detonation temperature. Flames should never be introduced in an
area suspected of containing explosive materials. Some chemical combinations are capable of
igniting upon contact with the components without external aid (i.e., hypergolic).
Friction - CORRECT ANSWER - Friction creates heat as two materials rub together. For
example, walking on loose materials could create enough friction to detonate explosives in the
area. Do not walk on explosive material lying on the floor/ground. Even opening a pipe end cap
can create sufficient friction to initiate low explosives, such as black powder.
Impact/shock - CORRECT ANSWER - Impact/Shock can cause sufficient force/heat to
initiate an explosive. This can occur when a suspected item that contains explosives is dropped,
or a non-explosive item is dropped onto an explosive compound. Impact/Shock is a possibility in
some industries, especially fireworks and bomb factories, where explosive compound dust
covers the floors.
static electricity - CORRECT ANSWER - Static electricity can produce an electrostatic
discharge sufficient to detonate an explosive.
Radio Frequency (RF) - CORRECT ANSWER - RF can set off electronic initiating
devices and some very sensitive explosives in the same manner as static electricity. Radios and
electronic communication devices should not be used when explosives are suspected in the area.
Electronic communication transmissions should not occur within a minimum of 500 ft. (152.4 m)
of suspected explosives.
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
low explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - Low explosives are compositions designed to
burn rapidly and intensely. Examples include some fireworks content, black powder, and
smokeless powders.
Historically, low explosives have been used in the majority of bombings in the U.S. Normally,
low explosives will burn rapidly when unconfined, but an explosion can occur when they are
sufficiently confined.
high explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - High explosives are compositions designed to
detonate at a rate of more than 0.62 mi./sec. (1,000 m/s). Examples include the following:
Military explosives (e.g., C-4 and TNT)
Commercial explosives (e.g., dynamite; Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil [ANFO], slurries, and gels)
Improvised explosives (e.g., Triacetone Triperoxide [TATP] and Hexamethylene Triperoxide
Diamine [HMTD])
high explosive: primary explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary explosives are
extremely sensitive and extremely dangerous because they are designed to initiate with slight
impulse. Primary explosives are used to detonate secondary explosives but can also be used as
the main charge. Simply turning a lid on a container of primary explosives or stepping on small
quantities can cause detonation. Almost all detonators contain primary explosives.
high explosives: secondary explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - In general, secondary
explosives are much less sensitive than primary explosives. They are more commonly used as
the main charge and are designed to withstand handling. Examples include TNT, C-4, and
dynamite. Detonation of secondary explosives requires tremendous energy levels normally
created by another explosion, usually primary explosives in the blasting cap. Though designed to
require the shock of a blasting cap for initiation, small quantities of these explosives can be
detonated by shock, friction, or heat.
high explosives: tertiary explosives - CORRECT ANSWER - Based on ammonium nitrate
and ammonium perchlorate, these explosives are also called blasting agents. The individual
compounds are not explosive; they become explosive only when mixed together. Tertiary
, explosives are extremely insensitive, requiring high explosive boosters to initiate detonation. A
blasting cap will not generally initiate them. Usually, a large quantity (i.e., approximately 0.5 lb.
[226.79 g]) of a secondary explosive or booster is needed. For example, a stick of dynamite can
be used to initiate a tertiary explosive.
stimuli for explosions - CORRECT ANSWER - heat, friction, impact/shock, static
electricity, radio frequency (RF)
Heat - CORRECT ANSWER - Heat, in this context, refers to temperature. Each explosive
has a burn temperature and a detonation temperature. Flames should never be introduced in an
area suspected of containing explosive materials. Some chemical combinations are capable of
igniting upon contact with the components without external aid (i.e., hypergolic).
Friction - CORRECT ANSWER - Friction creates heat as two materials rub together. For
example, walking on loose materials could create enough friction to detonate explosives in the
area. Do not walk on explosive material lying on the floor/ground. Even opening a pipe end cap
can create sufficient friction to initiate low explosives, such as black powder.
Impact/shock - CORRECT ANSWER - Impact/Shock can cause sufficient force/heat to
initiate an explosive. This can occur when a suspected item that contains explosives is dropped,
or a non-explosive item is dropped onto an explosive compound. Impact/Shock is a possibility in
some industries, especially fireworks and bomb factories, where explosive compound dust
covers the floors.
static electricity - CORRECT ANSWER - Static electricity can produce an electrostatic
discharge sufficient to detonate an explosive.
Radio Frequency (RF) - CORRECT ANSWER - RF can set off electronic initiating
devices and some very sensitive explosives in the same manner as static electricity. Radios and
electronic communication devices should not be used when explosives are suspected in the area.
Electronic communication transmissions should not occur within a minimum of 500 ft. (152.4 m)
of suspected explosives.
