Which term refers to explosives that burn rapidly but slower than the speed of sound?

Which term refers to explosives that burn rapidly but slower than the speed of sound?

• A. Explosives that detonate with a chemical reaction moving faster than the speed of sound.
• B. Explosives that burn rapidly but slower than the speed of sound.
• C. Explosives that burn slowly but cause pressure.
• D. Explosives that are used in nuclear devices.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how the release propagates: deflagration refers to rapid burning that travels at subsonic speeds, slower than the speed of sound, without a shock wave. That matches the description of explosives that burn rapidly but remain slower than sonic speed. The other descriptions describe detonation (a reaction front moving faster than sound with a shock wave), nuclear-device mechanisms (different physics), or a vague “burn slowly” scenario that doesn’t capture the defined rapid-but-subsonic burning. So the correct term is deflagration.

The main idea here is how the release propagates: deflagration refers to rapid burning that travels at subsonic speeds, slower than the speed of sound, without a shock wave. That matches the description of explosives that burn rapidly but remain slower than sonic speed. The other descriptions describe detonation (a reaction front moving faster than sound with a shock wave), nuclear-device mechanisms (different physics), or a vague “burn slowly” scenario that doesn’t capture the defined rapid-but-subsonic burning. So the correct term is deflagration.