Introduction to Explosives and Fire Technology

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts, definitions, and historical development of fire and explosive technology, preparing students for further studies in forensic fire investigation and explosion analysis.

Fire

The product of a chemical reaction in which combustible materials burn at a sufficient temperature and are sustained by oxidizing chemicals.

Technology

The branch of knowledge that deals with industrial arts and sciences; application of scientific knowledge to produce materials and systems necessary for societal needs.

Fire Technology

The field that deals with the scientific study of fire, including the chemistry of fire, the mechanics of combustion, principles of fire behavior, and fundamentals of fire protection and suppression.

Explosives

Chemical mixtures or compounds that undergo rapid decomposition when subjected to heat, impact, friction, or shock, releasing large amounts of heat, expanding gases, and high pressure capable of causing destruction.

Detonation

Occurs when the rate of chemical decomposition exceeds the speed of sound, producing a shock wave; characteristic of high explosives.

Deflagration

Occurs when the reaction rate is slower than the speed of sound and propagates through heat transfer; typical of low explosives and burning materials.

Greek Fire

A flammable substance used in naval warfare that could burn on water and had a closely guarded composition.

Gunpowder

A chemical mixture discovered by Chinese alchemists, consisting of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur, initially used for fireworks and later for military applications.

Dynamite

A powerful explosive invented by Alfred Nobel in 1867, stabilizing nitroglycerin for industrial use.

Napalm

An incendiary material designed to produce intense heat rather than blast pressure.

Flashover

A phenomenon in fire dynamics where all combustible materials in a room ignite almost simultaneously.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)

Homemade explosives designed for use in criminal or military applications, increasingly prevalent in modern times.

Chemical Reaction

A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another, critical in understanding combustion and explosions.