CITP Exam 5 | COMPLETE EXAM PREPARATION
2026 | VERIFIED ANSWERS | STUDY GUIDE
High explosive -✓✓ANSWER: an explosive which normally requires a blasting cap
or detonator for initiation and once initiated produces a supersonic detonation
with a shattering or brisant effect
(C4, Semtex, TNT, PETN)
• Low explosive -✓✓ANSWER: an explosive, which when unconfined, responds to
initiation by deflagration or burning and produces a pushing effect (MUST BE
CONFINED TO DETONATE)
(legal fireworks, black powder, smokeless powder)
• Thermal effect -✓✓ANSWER: seen as a bright light or fireball at the moment of
detonation (high explosive- higher temp for shorter duration, low explosive-
lower temp but longer duration)
*LEAST DAMAGING EFFECT*
• Blast Pressure Effect -✓✓ANSWER: includes positive and negative phases of the
incident blast wave
*MOST POWERFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT*
,• Negative phase -✓✓ANSWER: a vacuum is created near the epicenter due to the
outward movement of air, 3x longer than positive phase but less intensity
• Confined or Reflected blast -✓✓ANSWER: - can amplify impact up to 13x
- perpendicular surfaces have maximum reflected pressure
- parallel surfaces have minimum reflected pressure
(blast waves also enhanced or focused by confinement such as a tunnel, corridor,
trench, or city street)
• Physiological effects of a blast -✓✓ANSWER: Primary blast injuries- direct
effects of the blast pressure
Secondary blast injuries- caused by propelled fragmentation or debris *most
common cause of death* (broken glass causes 75% of injuries)
Tertiary Blast injuries- body is propelled by blast wave and impacts the ground
Quaternary injuries- other injuries such as crush injuries or burns
• Fragmentation Effect -✓✓ANSWER: -rupture of case and propelling of broken
pieces
- includes primary and secondary frag- both are just as lethal
*DEADLIEST EFFECT*
, • components of an IED -✓✓ANSWER: 1. Power source (ex: battery)
2. Initiator (either an igniter or detonator- blasting cap, christmas tree lights etc. )
3. Explosive (low explosive needs confinement)
4. Switch
• What is the most frequent method of initiation? -✓✓ANSWER: simple fuse, pipe
bomb
• Common explosives -✓✓ANSWER: - Black Powder (most sensitive and
susceptible to heat, shock, friction etc.)
- Pyrodex
- Smokeless powder
• Types of high explosives -✓✓ANSWER: primary- extremely sensitive to
mechanical shock, friction, and heat, and will respond by detonating (ex: blasting
caps)
Secondary explosives- insensitive to heat shock, friction to prevent unintended
explosives (TNT, C4, Semtex)
Tertiary explosives- blasting agents; insensitive to shock, need an explosive
booster of secondary explosive
2026 | VERIFIED ANSWERS | STUDY GUIDE
High explosive -✓✓ANSWER: an explosive which normally requires a blasting cap
or detonator for initiation and once initiated produces a supersonic detonation
with a shattering or brisant effect
(C4, Semtex, TNT, PETN)
• Low explosive -✓✓ANSWER: an explosive, which when unconfined, responds to
initiation by deflagration or burning and produces a pushing effect (MUST BE
CONFINED TO DETONATE)
(legal fireworks, black powder, smokeless powder)
• Thermal effect -✓✓ANSWER: seen as a bright light or fireball at the moment of
detonation (high explosive- higher temp for shorter duration, low explosive-
lower temp but longer duration)
*LEAST DAMAGING EFFECT*
• Blast Pressure Effect -✓✓ANSWER: includes positive and negative phases of the
incident blast wave
*MOST POWERFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT*
,• Negative phase -✓✓ANSWER: a vacuum is created near the epicenter due to the
outward movement of air, 3x longer than positive phase but less intensity
• Confined or Reflected blast -✓✓ANSWER: - can amplify impact up to 13x
- perpendicular surfaces have maximum reflected pressure
- parallel surfaces have minimum reflected pressure
(blast waves also enhanced or focused by confinement such as a tunnel, corridor,
trench, or city street)
• Physiological effects of a blast -✓✓ANSWER: Primary blast injuries- direct
effects of the blast pressure
Secondary blast injuries- caused by propelled fragmentation or debris *most
common cause of death* (broken glass causes 75% of injuries)
Tertiary Blast injuries- body is propelled by blast wave and impacts the ground
Quaternary injuries- other injuries such as crush injuries or burns
• Fragmentation Effect -✓✓ANSWER: -rupture of case and propelling of broken
pieces
- includes primary and secondary frag- both are just as lethal
*DEADLIEST EFFECT*
, • components of an IED -✓✓ANSWER: 1. Power source (ex: battery)
2. Initiator (either an igniter or detonator- blasting cap, christmas tree lights etc. )
3. Explosive (low explosive needs confinement)
4. Switch
• What is the most frequent method of initiation? -✓✓ANSWER: simple fuse, pipe
bomb
• Common explosives -✓✓ANSWER: - Black Powder (most sensitive and
susceptible to heat, shock, friction etc.)
- Pyrodex
- Smokeless powder
• Types of high explosives -✓✓ANSWER: primary- extremely sensitive to
mechanical shock, friction, and heat, and will respond by detonating (ex: blasting
caps)
Secondary explosives- insensitive to heat shock, friction to prevent unintended
explosives (TNT, C4, Semtex)
Tertiary explosives- blasting agents; insensitive to shock, need an explosive
booster of secondary explosive
