Forensic Science

Question 1

Forensic Science

Answer 1

The science used in police investigations to identify the perpetrator.

Question 2

Crime Scene

Answer 2

A place where a crime has been committed and evidence has been gathered.

Question 3

Suspect

Answer 3

A person who is believed to be guilty.

Question 4

Accomplice

Answer 4

A person who helps to commit a crime.

Question 5

Alibi

Answer 5

Evidence to prove whereabouts when a crime was committed.

Question 6

CSU

Answer 6

Crime Scene Unit

Question 7

DNA

Answer 7

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Question 8

Locard’s Exchange Principle

Answer 8

Every criminal either leaves or takes something from the scene.

Question 9

Contact Traces/Trace Evidence

Answer 9

Fingerprints, fibres from clothing, body hair.

Question 10

Types of Evidence

Answer 10

Testimonial, physical, trace

Question 11

Post-mortem

Answer 11

After death

Question 12

Autopsy

Answer 12

A detailed scientific inspection to establish the exact cause of death.

Question 13

Hair layers

Answer 13

Cuticle, medulla, cortex

Question 14

Types of fingerprints

Answer 14

Latent, visible, plastic

Question 15

Latent Print

Answer 15

Left by sweat/oil from hands on a surface, not visible to the naked eye.

Question 16

Visible Print

Answer 16

Left by touching blood, ink, paint (or other visible materials).

Question 17

Plastic Print

Answer 17

Left by touching a soft surface and making an impression.

Question 18

Finger Print Primary Structures

Answer 18

Loops, whorls, arches

Question 19

Minutiae

Answer 19

Fine details used to distinguish fingerprints of an individual.

Question 20

Australian Finger Print Standard

Answer 20

A minimum of 12 points must be used to identify two sets of prints as being a match.

Question 21

Types of Injuries

Answer 21

Antemortem, perimortem, post-mortem

Question 22

Antemortem

Answer 22

Occurred before death

Question 23

Perimortem

Answer 23

Occurred at the time of death

Question 24

Post-mortem

Answer 24

Occurred after death

Question 25

Rigor Mortis

Answer 25

The period that a body goes through a state of stiffness caused by the lactic acid build up in the body

Question 26

Rigor Mortis Timeline

Answer 26

1-4 hours: jaw and neck rigid, rest of body limp Up to 8 hours: everything down to the legs is rigid For 12 hours: everything remains rigid 24 hours: jaw is limp, everything else is rigid 30-32 hours: everything but the legs are limp 36 hours: entire body is limp (no rigidity) decomposition has begun

Question 27

Livor Mortis

Answer 27

The settling of blood that caused the skin to change colour and determines if the body has been moved.

Question 28

Algor Mortis

Answer 28

Estimating the time of death from body temperature.

Question 29

Algor Mortis formula

Answer 29

(36.9 - body temperature in degrees Celsius) * 1.2

Question 30

Optical microscope

Answer 30

Light microscope

Question 31

Electron microscope

Answer 31

Higher magnification than an optical microscope

Question 32

Mass spectrometry

Answer 32

Analyses particles of chemical substances

Question 33

Gas chromatography

Answer 33

Analyses compounds that can be vaporised without decomposition

Question 34

DNA profiling equipment

Answer 34

Can match genetic information from a body/crime scene with samples take from suspect

Question 35

Spatter

Answer 35

Bloodstains created from the applications of force to the area where the blood originated.

Question 36

Origin/Source

Answer 36

The place from where the blood spatter come from or originated.

Question 37

Angle of Impact

Answer 37

The angle at which a blood droplet strikes a surface.

Question 38

Parent Drop

Answer 38

The droplet from which a satellite spatter originates.

Question 39

Satellite Spatters

Answer 39

Small drops of blood that break off from the parent spatter when the blood droplet hits a surface.

Question 40

Spines

Answer 40

The pointed edges of a stain that radiate out from the spatter; can help determine the direction from which the blood travelled.

Question 41

Passive Bloodstains

Answer 41

Low velocity impact

Question 42

Projected Bloodstains

Answer 42

High velocity impact

Question 43

Transfer or contact bloodstain patterns

Answer 43

When a wet, bloody object comes in contact with a target surface.

Question 44

Swipe pattern

Answer 44

From an object moving through and leaving a bloodstain.

Question 44

Swipe pattern

Answer 44

From an object moving through and leaving a bloodstain.

Question 45

Round Blood Droplet

Answer 45

If blood has fallen straight down (90 degree angle)

Question 46

Elliptical Blood Droplet

Answer 46

If blood has fallen at an angle

Question 47

Impact angle formula

Answer 47

Impact angle = sin^-1 (width/length)