Criminalistics Quiz Answers
The answers to these questions can also be found in the criminalistics certificate program at UNT.
-
Of what possible value are the fracture lines visible on the edge of this piece of broken glass?
Answer: If one knows what type of edge this is (i.e. radial or concentric), then it is possible to determine which direction the force came from that produced the fracture. In this instance this is a radial fracture edge. Accordingly, the force that produced the fracture came from the top of the glass as positioned here. The original orientation of the glass must be known for this to be feasible at a crime scene.
-
What are the various residues visible in this high speed camera image of the discharge of a 38 caliber revolver?
Answer: (left to right) unburned gunpowder particles, soot residue, burning gunpowder particles and hot gases emanating from the cylinder gap.
-
How does a criminalist utilize these visible residues as well as other residues that are produced during the discharge of a firearm but are not visible to the unaided eye?
Answer: The partially burned and unburned gunpowder residues, along with soot deposits, allow the determination of approximate muzzle to target distance through visual examination and chemical testing. The "invisible" residues from the primer (compounds of barium, antimony and lead), when present on a suspect, indicate that the person has either fired a weapon, been in close proximity to a weapon as it was fired or has handled a weapon. -
What are these advanced criminalistics students working on?
Answer: They are looking at the results of chemical enhancement of some pieces of plastic with partial fingerprints. By applying certain chemicals to objects bearing fingerprint residues, visualization of the fingerprint friction ridges may be achieved. Students in advanced criminalistics II study and work with these techniques along with a number of others.
