Fire Science

Question 1

Four products of combustion

Answer 1

Smoke, flame, heat, gas + irritants

Question 2

Flashpoint

Answer 2

Minimum temperature for momentary, not sustained ignition

Question 3

Ignition Temperature

Answer 3

Minimum temperature required for fuel to ignite and burn independent of ignition source

Question 4

Firepoint

Answer 4

Minimum temperature required for liquid fuel to produce sufficient vapors to support combustion once fuels ignited. Firepoint must exceed a few degrees above the flashpoint

Question 5

Boiling Point

Answer 5

Temperature required to boil liquid, and vapor pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure

Question 6

Oxidation

Answer 6

A chemical process that occurs when a substance combines with an oxidizer such as oxygen in the air (i.e. rust)

Question 7

Pyrolysis

Answer 7

The chemical decomposition of a solid material by heating. It often precedes combustion

Question 8

Reducing Agent

Answer 8

The fuel that is being oxidized or burned during combustion

Question 9

Vaporization

Answer 9

The physical process that changes liquid to gas

Question 10

Vapor density

Answer 10

The weight of a given volume of pure vapor or gas compared to the equal volume of dry air

VD < 1 = lighter than air
VD > 1 = heavier than air

Question 11

Specific gravity

Answer 11

The mass of a substance compared to the mass of an equal volume of water at a given temperature

SG < 1 = substance lighter than water
SG > 1 = substance heavier than water

Question 12

Thermal layering

Answer 12

The outcome of combustion, in which gases form into layers (hottest gases to the ceiling and coldest to the floor)

Question 13

Fire triangle

Answer 13

Heat, oxygen, fuel

Question 14

Fire tetrahedron

Answer 14

Heat, fuel, oxygen, self-sustaining chemical chain reaction

Question 15

Heat energy sources

Answer 15

Electrical, chemical, mechanical, nuclear

Question 16

Phases of fire (textbook)

Answer 16

Ignition, growth, fully developed, decay

Question 17

Phases of fire (curriculum)

Answer 17

Ignition, growth, flashover, fully developed, decay

Question 18

Flameover/Rollover

Answer 18

A condition in which the unburned fire gases accumulate at top (ceiling) of compartment and ignite across ceiling

Question 19

Backdraft

Answer 19

The explosive burning of heated gases that occurs when oxygen is introduced into a compartment that has a high concentration of flammable gases and a depleted supply of oxygen due to existing fire

Question 20

Methods of Heat Transfer

Answer 20

Conduction, radiation, convection, direct-flame impingement

Question 21

Conduction

Answer 21

Transfer of heat between solids through direct contact

Question 22

Convection

Answer 22

Transfer of heat by circulation/movement of fluid (gas or liquid)

Question 23

Radiation

Answer 23

Transmission of energy as an electromagnetic wave

Question 24

Direct flame impingement

Answer 24

Combination of convection and radiation

Question 25

Poisonous fire gases

Answer 25

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Dioxide
Hydrogen Cyanide

Question 26

Freezing and Boiling temps

Answer 26

Freezing= 32F ; 0C
Boiling= 212F ; 100C

Question 27

1 BTU=

Answer 27

252 Calories

Question 28

Fire Extinguishment Theory

Answer 28

Remove any part of fire triangle or fire tetrahedron and fire goes out

Question 29

Four Methods of Extinguishment

Answer 29

1. Temperature reduction
2. Fuel removal
3. Oxygen exclusion
4. Inhibiting chemical reaction