Question

Which of the following statements about ionization smoke detectors is MOST accurate?

A. Ionization smoke detectors detect tiny amounts of radioactive material emitted by burning fuel.
B. Ionization smoke detectors generally respond faster to smoldering than to flaming fires.
C. Ionization smoke detectors detect products of combustion using tiny amounts of radioactive material.
D. Ionization smoke detectors are sensitive to sunlight, and are usually installed in fully enclosed areas.

Answer 1

Ionization smoke detectors detect products of combustion using tiny amounts of radioactive material.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most accurate statement about ionization smoke detectors is:

C. Ionization smoke detectors detect products of combustion using tiny amounts of radioactive material.

Ionization smoke detectors typically contain a small amount of radioactive material, such as americium, which emits alpha particles. These alpha particles ionize the air between two metal plates in the detector, creating a current. When smoke particles enter the detector, they disrupt the flow of ions and decrease the current, triggering the alarm.