An alternative name for a flame detector is what?

The correct answer is that an alternative name for a flame detector is a light detector. Flame detectors operate by sensing the intense light emitted by flames, which often includes ultraviolet light, visible light, or infrared radiation. This characteristic allows flame detectors to quickly identify the presence of fire based on the distinct light signature that flames produce, making them a vital component in fire detection systems, especially in environments where rapid detection is crucial.

Heat detectors, while related to fire detection, focus on sensing rising temperatures rather than light. Smoke detectors are designed to detect particles of combustion, primarily detecting smoke rather than flames themselves. Combustion detectors are not a widely recognized term in the context of detecting flames, as they do not specifically emphasize the role of light detection in identifying a flame. Thus, "light detector" is the most accurate alternative terminology for a flame detector.