Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

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What do ionization smoke detectors primarily sense?

  1. Changes in temperature

  2. Light obscuration from smoke particles

  3. Changes in electrical current caused by smoke particles

  4. Chemical composition of smoke

The correct answer is: Changes in electrical current caused by smoke particles

Ionization smoke detectors primarily sense changes in electrical current caused by smoke particles. These detectors contain a small amount of radioactive material that ionizes the air within a sensing chamber, allowing current to flow between two electrodes. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts this ionization process by attaching to the ions and neutralizing them, leading to a reduction in the electrical current. This drop in current triggers the alarm. This functioning distinguishes ionization smoke detectors from other types, such as photoelectric detectors, which work by detecting light obscuration caused by smoke particles. Ionization detectors are particularly sensitive to fast-burning fires, which produce larger quantities of small combustion particles. This focus on electrical changes within the sensor chamber is what gives ionization smoke detectors their effectiveness in quickly identifying certain types of fires.

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