Differentiate between a time fuze and a point-detonating fuze.

• A. Time fuzes detonate after a preset time; point-detonating fuzes detonate on impact or at a precise location.
• B. Time fuzes detonate on impact; point-detonating fuzes detonate after a preset time.
• C. Time fuzes detonate at altitude; point-detonating fuzes detonate when triggered by heat.
• D. Time fuzes detonate after a preset distance; point-detonating fuzes detonate when they sense target proximity.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how the fuze is triggered. A time fuze uses a countdown mechanism that starts when the projectile is fired, and it detonates after the preset time. This lets you create an airburst or delay the explosion to influence the fragmentation pattern over an area or above a target. A point-detonating fuze, on the other hand, detonates when a trigger is met at a specific point—typically on impact with the target or at a precisely located point along the trajectory. This makes the explosion occur exactly where intended, rather than after a time delay.

So, the correct distinction is that time fuzes detonate after a preset time, while point-detonating fuzes detonate on impact or at a precise location.