5.3 Fire Dynamics Flashcards

1
Q

What does the field of study “Fire Dynamics” encompass?

a) Only the interaction of chemistry and material science
b) Only the engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics
c) The interaction of chemistry and material science, and the engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics and heat transfer
d) Only the interaction of fire with structures

A

C

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2
Q

What is the simple definition of Fire Dynamics?

a) The study of firefighting practices
b) The study of how fires start, spread, and develop
c) The study of building construction changes
d) The study of trial and error in firefighting

A

B

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3
Q

How long has firefighting been a process of trial and error?

a) 50 years
b) Over 200 years
c) 100 years
d) 150 years

A

B

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4
Q

Why is understanding Fire Dynamics important for operations firefighters?

a) To learn about trial and error
b) To understand building construction changes
c) To develop strategies and tactics for firefighting
d) To study modern construction methods

A

C

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5
Q

What does knowledge of fire behavior assist firefighters in?

a) Identifying different firefighting equipment
b) Recognizing potential hazards and catastrophic fire events
c) Understanding building profiles only
d) Applying firefighting practices

A

B

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6
Q

What do new innovations in firefighting equipment allow operations to do?

a) Stay farther away from the fire
b) Retreat from the fire
c) Take operations deeper into the hostile environment
d) Only use traditional firefighting methods

A

C

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7
Q

What is defined as the heat transfer within solids or between contacting solids?

a) Convection
b) Fire
c) Conduction
d) Compartment geometry

A

C

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8
Q

What is defined as the heat transfer of gases or liquids, through natural movement from higher pressure areas to lower pressure areas?

a) Fire
b) Conduction
c) Convection
d) Ventilation

A

C

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9
Q

According to NFPA 921, what is fire?

a) A rapid oxidation process
b) A trial and error process
c) A combustion process
d) A heat transfer process

A

A

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10
Q

What factors does Fire Development depend on?

a) Only fuel properties
b) Only compartment geometry
c) Only ventilation
d) Fuel properties, fuel quality, ventilation, compartment geometry, location of fire, and ambient conditions

A

D

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11
Q

What is Heat Energy characterized by, and what is it capable of initiating and supporting?

a) Vibration of particles; only chemical changes
b) Vibration of molecules; only changes of state
c) Vibration of molecules; chemical changes and changes of state
d) Only changes of state; chemical changes

A

C

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12
Q

What is Heat Release Rate (HRR), and how is it measured?

a) The rate at which fire releases water; measured in liters
b) The rate at which fire releases energy; measured in Watts, Kilowatts, or Megawatts
c) The rate at which fire releases heat flux; measured in Kilowatts
d) The rate at which fire releases fuel; measured in joules

A

B

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13
Q

What is Heat Flux, and how is it measured?

a) The rate of heat energy transferred; measured in joules
b) The rate of heat energy transferred; measured in degrees Celsius
c) The rate of heat energy transferred per surface unit area; measured in joules/m2
d) The rate of heat energy transferred per surface unit area; measured in Kilowatts/m2

A

D

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14
Q

How does heat transfer relate to temperature changes in an object?

a) Heat is always transferred from the cooler object to the hotter object
b) Heat is always transferred from the hotter object to the cooler object
c) Temperature changes do not affect heat transfer
d) Heat energy does not affect the object’s temperature

A

B

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15
Q

What is Radiation as a form of heat transfer?

a) Heat transfer by conduction
b) Heat transfer by convection
c) Heat transfer by electromagnetic waves
d) Heat transfer by friction

A

C

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16
Q

What is Temperature a measure of, and how is it measured?

a) The degree of molecular activity; measured in Kilowatts
b) The degree of molecular activity; measured in joules
c) The degree of molecular activity; measured in degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius
d) The degree of molecular activity; measured in Watts

A

C

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17
Q

At what temperature does water boil and produce steam?

a) 50°C
b) 100°C
c) 150°C
d) 200°C

A

B

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18
Q

At what temperature does charring of modern protective clothing fabrics begin?

a) >200°C
b) >300°C
c) >400°C
d) >500°C

A

B

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19
Q

What does the Traditional Fire Development curve show the time history of?

a) Oxygen-limited fire
b) Fuel-limited fire
c) Heat-limited fire
d) Water-limited fire

A

B

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20
Q

When is the Traditional Fire Development curve fully developed?

a) When oxygen is limited
b) When heat is limited
c) When fuel is limited
d) When water is limited

A

C

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21
Q

What does the Fire Behavior in a Structure curve represent?

a) Fuel-limited fire
b) Ventilation-limited fire
c) Oxygen-limited fire
d) Water-limited fire

A

B

22
Q

What is the result of opening a vent in a ventilation-limited fire?

a) Rapid decrease in fire growth
b) Flaming combustion
c) Decayed fire with increased heat release
d) Potential for rapid increase in fire growth leading to flashover

A

D

23
Q

What is an Extreme Fire Event classified as?

a) Ventilation-limited fire
b) Fuel-limited fire
c) Flashover, Backdraft, Smoke Explosion, or Flame Over
d) Oxygen-limited fire

A

C

24
Q

What is Flashover in a fire incident?

a) The start of the fire growth stage
b) The most dangerous stage of fire
c) The decay of a fire
d) The extinguishment of a fire

A

B

25
Q

When does Flashover occur in a fire?

a) When surfaces are exposed to thermal radiation below 200℃
b) When surfaces are exposed to thermal radiation around 400℃
c) When surfaces are exposed to thermal radiation in excess of 600℃
d) When surfaces are exposed to thermal radiation below 100℃

A

C

26
Q

What is Backdraft in a confined area fire?

a) The start of the fire growth stage
b) An explosive force caused by introducing oxygen to heated gases
c) The most dangerous stage of fire
d) The extinguishment of a fire

A

B

27
Q

When does Backdraft occur in a confined area fire?

a) When oxygen is abundant in the confined area
b) When most of the oxygen within the confined area is consumed
c) When fuel is limited in the confined area
d) When the heat release is rapid

A

B

28
Q

What is Flameover (Rollover) in a fire incident?

a) The start of the fire growth stage
b) The most dangerous stage of fire
c) The ignition of accumulated unburned fuel in the ceiling layer
d) The decay of a fire

A

C

29
Q

What conditions contribute to Extreme Fire Events?

a) Slow Heat Release Rates
b) Exposure to oxygen
c) Modern building materials and furnishings promoting rapid Heat Release Rates
d) Low temperatures

A

C

30
Q

Why should firefighters be aware of rapid Heat Release in modern materials?

a) It promotes slower fire growth
b) It decreases the risk of flashover
c) It contributes to earlier Extreme Fire Events
d) It improves fire extinguishment

A

C

31
Q

What is a flowpath in firefighting?

a) A tool used to control fire growth
b) The route of firefighters inside a burning structure
c) The movement of fire and its by-products
d) The containment area for a fire

A

C

32
Q

Why is it crucial for firefighters to understand flowpath?

a) To control the movement of firefighters
b) To identify areas of low pressure
c) To prevent extreme fire events
d) To avoid putting themselves between the fire and an area of low pressure

A

D

33
Q

What is a natural flowpath?

a) The movement of fire caused by wind
b) A flowpath created by human manipulation
c) A flowpath moving from higher pressure to lower pressure areas
d) A flowpath influenced by extreme temperature variations

A

C

34
Q

How can environmental factors affect flowpath?

a) By using mechanical fans
b) By hydraulic entrainment
c) Through wind and extreme temperature variations
d) By reversing the stack effect

A

C

35
Q

What is the reverse stack effect in high-rise fires?

a) A natural flowpath moving upward
b) The movement of fire caused by wind
c) A flowpath created by human manipulation
d) The reversal of flowpath due to summer cooling

A

D

36
Q

What are human factors that can contribute to changes in flowpath?

a) Wind and extreme temperature variations
b) Mechanical fans and hydraulic entrainment
c) The reverse stack effect
d) Natural flowpath

A

B

37
Q

What does fire dynamics provide understanding about?

a) Firefighter protective equipment
b) Firefighter movement inside a burning structure
c) Fire growth and spread within a structure
d) Fire containment strategies

A

C

38
Q

How has the model of fire behavior changed over the years?

a) It has become more complex
b) It remains the same as decades ago
c) It has shifted focus from fire dynamics to structure protection
d) It has evolved based on experimental results and computer models

A

D

39
Q

Why may firefighting tactics need to evolve according to the information provided?

a) To control the movement of firefighters
b) To adapt to changing conditions on the fireground
c) To focus on structure protection only
d) To emphasize fire dynamics over protective equipment

A

B

40
Q

What does the term “flowpath” primarily refer to in firefighting?

a) Movement of water in a hose
b) Movement of firefighters within a structure
c) Movement of fire and its by-products
d) Movement of vehicles responding to a fire

A

C

41
Q

What is the Blowtorch Effect in the context of wind-driven fires?

a) A swirling effect of smoke
b) Unidirectional flow from floor to ceiling
c) Rapid combustion of materials
d) Vertical fire spread

A

B

42
Q

How are wind-driven fires affected by external wind or ventilation-forced pressure?

a) They experience a decrease in fire severity
b) They are not affected by wind conditions
c) The severity of fire spread is influenced
d) Wind conditions have no impact on fire development

A

C

43
Q

What term is often used to describe wind-driven fires?

a) Controlled fire
b) Forced-draft fire
c) Wind-assisted fire
d) Stable fire

A

C

44
Q

In buildings, when is the greatest impact of wind-driven fires usually experienced?

a) In small, single-story structures
b) In tall buildings
c) In buildings with open windows
d) In buildings with no ventilation

A

B and C

45
Q

What should be considered during the initial size-up of a wind-driven fire incident?

a) Structural integrity only
b) Wind conditions only
c) Fire severity only
d) Wind conditions as part of the size-up

A

D

46
Q

What wind speed range is mentioned as high enough to create a wind-driven fire condition in a structure?

a) 5 mph to 10 mph
b) 10 mph to 20 mph
c) 20 mph to 30 mph
d) 30 mph to 40 mph

A

B

47
Q

What should be ensured during fire attack in the presence of wind-driven fire conditions?

a) Attack from the downwind side
b) Attack from the side with no wind
c) Attack from the upwind side if possible
d) Attack from the side with the strongest wind

A

C

48
Q

What is a warning factor for wind-driven fires related to smoke conditions?

a) Steady smoke release
b) Smoke pulsing through outlet
c) Absence of smoke
d) Dense smoke without movement

A

B

49
Q

What is the purpose of controlling windward side inlets during wind-driven fires?

a) To increase wind pressure
b) To limit wind effects on the fire
c) To allow free airflow
d) To create a blowtorch effect

A

B

50
Q

At what wind speed does the Beaufort Wind Chart become relevant for wind-driven fires?

a) Less than 5 mph
b) 5 mph to 10 mph
c) Greater than 10 mph
d) Greater than 20 mph

A

C