1. What is an explosive? A substance that undergoes rapid chemical reaction
releasing energy in the form of heat, light, gas, and pressure.
2. What are the three main categories of explosives? Low explosives, high
explosives, and blasting agents.
3. What is detonation velocity? The speed at which the detonation wave
travels through an explosive, typically measured in meters per second.
4. What is deflagration? A rapid combustion that propagates through an
explosive at subsonic speeds, characteristic of low explosives.
5. What is detonation? A supersonic combustion wave that propagates through
an explosive material, characteristic of high explosives.
6. What is the difference between primary and secondary explosives?
Primary explosives are highly sensitive and used as initiators; secondary
explosives are less sensitive and require a primary explosive to detonate.
7. What is ANFO? Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil - a common blasting agent
mixture of about 94% ammonium nitrate and 6% fuel oil.
8. What does VOD stand for? Velocity of Detonation.
9. What is sympathetic detonation? The detonation of one explosive charge
causing nearby undetonated explosives to detonate.
10. What is a blasting agent? A material designed for blasting that cannot be
detonated by a standard blasting cap and requires a primer.
11. What is bulk strength? The explosive energy per unit volume of an
explosive material.
12. What is weight strength? The explosive energy per unit weight of an
explosive material.
13. What is relative weight strength (RWS)? The comparison of an
explosive's strength to a standard reference explosive, typically ANFO at 100%.
,14. What is density of an explosive? The mass per unit volume, which affects
the explosive's performance and energy output.
15. What is water resistance? The ability of an explosive to withstand
exposure to water without losing effectiveness.
16. What is fume classification? A rating system for toxic gases produced by
explosive detonation, from Class 1 (safest) to Class 3 (most toxic).
17. What is sensitizer in explosives? A substance added to make an explosive
more sensitive to initiation.
18. What is a desensitizer? A substance added to reduce the sensitivity of an
explosive to accidental initiation.
19. What is critical diameter? The minimum diameter at which an explosive
can sustain stable detonation.
20. What is oxygen balance? The degree to which an explosive contains
enough oxygen to completely oxidize its fuel components.
21. What is a primer? A cartridge of high explosive used to initiate a less
sensitive blasting agent.
22. What is boosting? Using a primer or booster to increase the detonation
reliability of insensitive explosives.
23. What are NOx fumes? Nitrogen oxides - toxic gases produced during
explosive detonation.
24. What is carbon monoxide in blasting? A toxic gas that can be produced
by incomplete combustion during detonation.
25. What is sleeper detonation? A delayed detonation that occurs
unexpectedly after the main blast.
26. What is hygroscopic? The ability of a material to absorb moisture from the
air, which can affect explosive performance.
27. What is exudation? The leaking of liquid components from an explosive,
indicating deterioration.
28. What is stability of explosives? The ability of an explosive to maintain its
chemical composition and properties over time.
29. What is cap sensitivity? The ease with which an explosive can be initiated
by a blasting cap.
, 30. What is a shaped charge? An explosive charge designed to focus energy in
a specific direction.
31. What is brisance? The shattering or fragmentation capability of an
explosive.
32. What is heaving action? The lifting and displacing effect of an explosive
rather than shattering.
33. What are water gels? Explosive formulations that contain substantial
amounts of water as an ingredient.
34. What are emulsion explosives? Explosives consisting of oxidizer droplets
suspended in an oil phase with emulsifying agents.
35. What is slurry explosive? A water-based explosive containing oxidizers,
fuels, and sensitizers in a gel matrix.
36. What is dynamite? A high explosive traditionally based on nitroglycerin
absorbed in a porous material.
37. What is the purpose of aluminum in explosives? To increase heat output
and blast energy through exothermic reaction.
38. What is a permissible explosive? An explosive approved for use in
underground coal mines due to reduced flame and lower temperature.
39. What is detonator strength? The power or energy output of a detonator,
typically rated numerically.
40. What is propagation? The transmission of detonation from one explosive
charge to another.
41. What is dead pressing? Compacting an explosive to such a high density
that it becomes difficult or impossible to detonate.
42. What is channel effect? Increased detonation velocity when explosives are
confined in narrow channels or holes.
43. What is blast energy? The total energy released during explosive
detonation, measured in various units.
44. What is explosive train? The sequence of explosive components from
initiation to main charge detonation.
45. What is failure to fire? When an explosive charge does not detonate as
intended.
releasing energy in the form of heat, light, gas, and pressure.
2. What are the three main categories of explosives? Low explosives, high
explosives, and blasting agents.
3. What is detonation velocity? The speed at which the detonation wave
travels through an explosive, typically measured in meters per second.
4. What is deflagration? A rapid combustion that propagates through an
explosive at subsonic speeds, characteristic of low explosives.
5. What is detonation? A supersonic combustion wave that propagates through
an explosive material, characteristic of high explosives.
6. What is the difference between primary and secondary explosives?
Primary explosives are highly sensitive and used as initiators; secondary
explosives are less sensitive and require a primary explosive to detonate.
7. What is ANFO? Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil - a common blasting agent
mixture of about 94% ammonium nitrate and 6% fuel oil.
8. What does VOD stand for? Velocity of Detonation.
9. What is sympathetic detonation? The detonation of one explosive charge
causing nearby undetonated explosives to detonate.
10. What is a blasting agent? A material designed for blasting that cannot be
detonated by a standard blasting cap and requires a primer.
11. What is bulk strength? The explosive energy per unit volume of an
explosive material.
12. What is weight strength? The explosive energy per unit weight of an
explosive material.
13. What is relative weight strength (RWS)? The comparison of an
explosive's strength to a standard reference explosive, typically ANFO at 100%.
,14. What is density of an explosive? The mass per unit volume, which affects
the explosive's performance and energy output.
15. What is water resistance? The ability of an explosive to withstand
exposure to water without losing effectiveness.
16. What is fume classification? A rating system for toxic gases produced by
explosive detonation, from Class 1 (safest) to Class 3 (most toxic).
17. What is sensitizer in explosives? A substance added to make an explosive
more sensitive to initiation.
18. What is a desensitizer? A substance added to reduce the sensitivity of an
explosive to accidental initiation.
19. What is critical diameter? The minimum diameter at which an explosive
can sustain stable detonation.
20. What is oxygen balance? The degree to which an explosive contains
enough oxygen to completely oxidize its fuel components.
21. What is a primer? A cartridge of high explosive used to initiate a less
sensitive blasting agent.
22. What is boosting? Using a primer or booster to increase the detonation
reliability of insensitive explosives.
23. What are NOx fumes? Nitrogen oxides - toxic gases produced during
explosive detonation.
24. What is carbon monoxide in blasting? A toxic gas that can be produced
by incomplete combustion during detonation.
25. What is sleeper detonation? A delayed detonation that occurs
unexpectedly after the main blast.
26. What is hygroscopic? The ability of a material to absorb moisture from the
air, which can affect explosive performance.
27. What is exudation? The leaking of liquid components from an explosive,
indicating deterioration.
28. What is stability of explosives? The ability of an explosive to maintain its
chemical composition and properties over time.
29. What is cap sensitivity? The ease with which an explosive can be initiated
by a blasting cap.
, 30. What is a shaped charge? An explosive charge designed to focus energy in
a specific direction.
31. What is brisance? The shattering or fragmentation capability of an
explosive.
32. What is heaving action? The lifting and displacing effect of an explosive
rather than shattering.
33. What are water gels? Explosive formulations that contain substantial
amounts of water as an ingredient.
34. What are emulsion explosives? Explosives consisting of oxidizer droplets
suspended in an oil phase with emulsifying agents.
35. What is slurry explosive? A water-based explosive containing oxidizers,
fuels, and sensitizers in a gel matrix.
36. What is dynamite? A high explosive traditionally based on nitroglycerin
absorbed in a porous material.
37. What is the purpose of aluminum in explosives? To increase heat output
and blast energy through exothermic reaction.
38. What is a permissible explosive? An explosive approved for use in
underground coal mines due to reduced flame and lower temperature.
39. What is detonator strength? The power or energy output of a detonator,
typically rated numerically.
40. What is propagation? The transmission of detonation from one explosive
charge to another.
41. What is dead pressing? Compacting an explosive to such a high density
that it becomes difficult or impossible to detonate.
42. What is channel effect? Increased detonation velocity when explosives are
confined in narrow channels or holes.
43. What is blast energy? The total energy released during explosive
detonation, measured in various units.
44. What is explosive train? The sequence of explosive components from
initiation to main charge detonation.
45. What is failure to fire? When an explosive charge does not detonate as
intended.
