Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Standardized Awareness Practice Test

What are the five forms of stimuli that can trigger explosive devices?

1. Temperature, humidity, pressure, vibrations, and light

2. Heat, friction, impact/shock, static electricity, and Radio Frequency (RF)

3. Sound, motion, radiation, pressure, and temperature

4. Wind, friction, static electricity, gravity, and motion

The correct answer is: Heat, friction, impact/shock, static electricity, and Radio Frequency (RF)

The correct answer identifies five specific forms of stimuli that can trigger explosive devices: heat, friction, impact/shock, static electricity, and Radio Frequency (RF). Each of these stimuli has distinct characteristics that can initiate an explosive reaction. Heat can raise the temperature of energetic materials to their ignition point, causing a detonation. Friction occurs when two surfaces rub against each other, potentially generating enough heat to ignite the material. Impact or shock refers to the force applied suddenly to an explosive, which can cause it to detonate if sufficient energy is imparted. Static electricity is another significant threat; a build-up of static charge can discharge explosively if it comes into contact with sensitive explosive compounds. Lastly, Radio Frequency (RF) signals can induce energy in explosives, effectively triggering a detonation if the conditions allow. The other options list combinations of stimuli, but they either include items that do not commonly trigger explosives or mix non-traditional stimuli with the primary forms used in explosive devices. Understanding the correct mechanisms is critical for those involved in safety, security, and handling of explosive materials.