w5 terms (Fingerprinting, Polymers & Fibres and firearms))

Question 1

Friction ridges

Answer 1

A raised portion of the epidermis that enable our hands to hold up objects; pattern of friction ridges give pattern of fingerprints

Question 2

Latent prints

Answer 2

Fingerprint impression that is not readily visible; requires chemical visualisation

Question 3

Skin graft procedure

Answer 3

Surgical procedure involving the transplantation of skin from one part of the body to another

Question 4

Visible prints

Answer 4

Fingerprints that are visible to the naked eye; also called patent prints

Question 5

Co-polymer

Answer 5

Long chain molecule made up of two or more monomers

Question 6

Hair cortex

Answer 6

Located between the hair cuticle and hair medulla; contains most of the hair’s pigments

Question 7

Hair cuticle

Answer 7

Outermost part of the hair shaft; formed from dead cells

Question 8

Hair follicle

Answer 8

A sac from which the hair grows; contains the root of a hair

Question 9

Hair medulla

Answer 9

Innermost part of the hair shaft; width and pattern is characteristic of species

Question 10

Hair root

Answer 10

The part of a hair embedded in a hair follicle

Question 11

Monomer

Answer 11

A molecule that forms the basic unit for polymers; can be bonded to other molecules to form a repeating chain molecule

Question 12

Polymer

Answer 12

A long chain molecule made up of many repeating units

Question 13

Proteins

Answer 13

Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids

Question 14

Stereo chemical

Answer 14

Difference in three dimensional structure of molecules

Question 15

Ammunition

Answer 15

One or more loaded cartridges consisting of a primed case, propellant, and projectile

Question 16

Back spatter

Answer 16

Blood directed backward towards the surface of the energy source

Question 17

Ballistics

Answer 17

The study of projectile in motion

Question 18

Breech loading firearms

Answer 18

Firearms in which the cartridge or shell is loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of the barrel

Question 19

Bullet

Answer 19

The projectile

Question 20

Cartridge

Answer 20

A unit of ammunition, made up of a cartridge case, primer, powder, and bullet

Question 21

External ballistics

Answer 21

What happens during the flight of the bullet

Question 22

Firing pin

Answer 22

The part of a firearm mechanism that strikes the primer of a cartridge to initiate ignition

Question 23

Firing pin impression

Answer 23

Impression on cartridge base when struck by the firing pin

Question 24

Griess Test

Answer 24

A chemical test for the detection of nitrites

Question 25

Gun Shot Residue (GSR)

Answer 25

Residues from the explosion of primer and charge

Question 26

Internal ballistics

Answer 26

What happens in the gun barrel

Question 27

Lands and groove

Answer 27

Refer to definition of Rifling; Lands are the raised portions between the grooves in the barrel after the spiral grooves are cut to produce the rifling

Question 28

Muzzle loading firearms

Answer 28

Firearms in which the cartridge is loaded from the front

Question 29

Primer

Answer 29

Shock sensitive compounds that detonate when they experience a shock

Question 30

Propellant

Answer 30

A chemical that provides energy when ignited; turns into gases and particles

Question 31

Rifling

Answer 31

Cutting of spiral grooves inside a gun barrel; metal between the grooves is called a “Land”

Question 32

Sodium Rhodizonate Test

Answer 32

A chemical test to detect the presence of particulate lead or lead vapour around a bullet hole

Question 33

Striations

Answer 33

Scratch marks left on the bullet’s side by grooves

Question 34

Terminal ballistics

Answer 34

What happens when the projectile hits the target