Which term matches the definition: a supersonic explosion that propagates through shock?

• A. Ammunition
• B. Pyrotechnic
• C. Explode
• D. Detonation

Answer: (D)

Detonation is the term that matches that definition. In detonation, the chemical reaction in the explosive is driven by a shock wave and travels through the material at supersonic speeds, so the shock front and the reaction move together as a single, fast-front explosion.

A deflagration, by contrast, is a subsonic burning process where the reaction front advances more slowly, fueled by heat transfer rather than a shock. That’s why it doesn’t fit the “supersonic explosion propagated by a shock” description.

Ammunition is a broad category for projectiles and propellants, not the mechanism of the explosion. Pyrotechnic refers to devices that produce effects like light or sound through chemical reactions, but not specifically the shock-driven detonation. Explode is a verb describing the action, not the process or mechanism.