Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

What term describes a sudden, violent eruption causing the violent expansion of materials?

1. Flash fire

2. An explosion

3. A detonation

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

The correct answer is the term that encompasses a sudden, violent eruption resulting in the rapid expansion of materials, which is characteristic of an explosion. An explosion refers to a chemical or physical reaction that leads to a rapid increase in volume and release of energy, often creating a shock wave and dispersing material in various directions. In the context of the other terms, both flash fire and detonation represent specific phenomena related to explosions. A flash fire is a brief, intense fire fueled by combustible gases that can occur rapidly but does not involve the violent expansion characteristic of an explosion. On the other hand, detonation refers to a specific type of explosion, particularly one that involves a shock wave and occurs at supersonic speeds. Therefore, while flash fire and detonation relate closely to the broader category of explosions, the main term that describes a violent eruption leading to the sudden expansion of materials is an explosion itself. Keeping this in mind, the answer that includes all these related terms correctly identifies them as part of a larger class of explosive events.