Physical Evidence (Chpt 3) Assessment

Physical Evidence Assessment

1. If the laboratory can piece broken glass from a window or headlight together, then the evidence has ______characteristics.

A. Identification B. Comparative C. Individual D. Class E. None of the above

2. A comparison analysis subjects a suspect specimen and a control specimen to the same tests and examinations for the ultimate purpose of determining:

A. Whether or not they have a common origin B. If they are identical in chemical composition C. If the same person handled them D. If they are alike in molecular structure E. All of the above

3 The “jigsaw fit” of known and questioned fragments is important for court presentation primarily because:

A. It is a quick way of demonstrating how the object broke. B. Courts and juries are too nonscientific to understand it any other way. C. Instrumental analysis is too complicated to explain to nontechnical juries. D. This method will definitely demonstrate common origin when a match is made. E. Instrumental analysis of the fragments will not be sufficiently specific for comparison purposes.

4. The computerized database used to store DNA information is:

A. AFIS B. CODIS C. HIBIM D. Drugfire E. PDQ 5. Physical evidence that can be used to aid in a crime scene reconstruction includes:

A. Blood spatters B. Gunshot residues C. Glass fragments D. Shoeprints E All of the above

6. The process by which the body temperature cools after death is known as:

A. Rigor mortis B. Algor mortis C. Livor mortis D. Denaturatation E. Ambient degradation

7. Which of the following techniques can be used to estimate the time of death?

A. Rigor mortis B. Eye fluid potassium levels C. Livor mortis D. Insect infestation E. All of the above

8. Who ultimately determines the significance of physical evidence in a trial?

A. The judge B. Expert witnesses C. The Supreme Court D. The jury E. None of the above

9. In our glass analysis, density is defined as:

A. Volume per unit weight B. Weight per unit volume C. Volume per unit volume D. Weight per unit weight E. None of the above

10. The two most important physical properties of glass for forensic comparisons are:

A. Color and density B. Weight and density C. Refractive index and density D. Refractive index and weight E. Refractive index and color 11. The fracture pattern of glass usually has: A. Radial lines B. Concentric lines C. Radial and concentric lines D. Directional lines E. None of the above

12. Stress marks on the edge of a radial crack near the point of impact are: A. Perpendicular to the side on which the force was applied B. Parallel to the side on which the force was applied C. Parallel to the side opposite the side on which the force was applied D. Parallel to both sides of the crack E. None of the above

13. Which is the most common and least expensive type of glass? A. borosilicate glass B soda-lime glass C. tempered D. laminated E. fused silica glass

14. Class evidence narrows an identity to: A. a group of persons or things B. an individual person C. an individual person or thing D. a subgroup E. none of the above

Constructed Response: In a few sentences (no more then five), respond to the following statement with the key words provided, indicating how they may be important in the investigation. In cooperation with the Medical Examiner, what type of evidence is to be retrieved from a deceased victim for examination in the crime lab? Key Words: clothing, fingernail scrapings, head & pubic hairs, bullets

Target responses: clothing- hair and fiber samples for comparison, any stains for analysis fingernail scrapings- possible suspect skin from defensive actions, DNA head & pubic hairs- samples for comparison, mDNA for ID bullets- identification of size/caliber, lands & groves for weapon ID