Forensic Ballistics
In its narrow sense, the word "ballistics" was derived from the word ________ or ___________ meaning "to throw."
ballo or ballien
The word "ballistics" was also derived from the Roman war machine _____________ which means a gigantic catapult thrown and used as a missile or large object to suppress animals or people.
ballista
In its technical sense, ballistice refers to what?
science of firearms identification
This definition of ballistics deals with the motion of projectiles and conditions affecting motion.
Ballistics as a Science
In the components of ammunition, what is the chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts into an expanding gas when ignited?
Gunpowder
What is forensic ballistics?
- It is the study of firearms identification by means of ammunitions fired through them.
- Investigation and identification of firearms by means of ammunitions fired from submitted suspected firearms.
- Scientific study of firearms identification with the use of laboratory examinations.
Which of the following was the oldest evidence of the earliest known ballistic projectiles?
Stone tipped spear found in Sibudu Cave, South Africa
Where was the oldest evidence of bows found?
Ahrensburg Valley, North of Hamburg
Henry Goddard found a bullet with a defect on its surface that did not result from the barrel or the impact. He suspected the defect occurred during manufacturing. What did he realize would help him confirm the identity of the shooter?
recovering the bullet mold
This personality recorded the first case of forensic examination applying ballistic fingerprinting to link the bullet recovered from the victim to the actual culprit in 1835.
Henry Goddard
In the 1860 case of Regina v. Richardson, what key piece of evidence was used to match the wadding found in the victim's wound to the suspect's home?
newspaper wadding
What is used to create a seal between the bullet and the gunpowder (before cartridges existed)?
Wadding
In 1902, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes used a magnifying glass to examine a test bullet and compare its striations with those found on a bullet from a victim. What are striations?
Markings impressed into the metal of a barrel
These are the markings impressed into the metal of a barrel; produced as the minute imperfections found on the rifling cutter’s surface.
Striations
This person took numerous photographs of the circumferences of the bullet found at the crime scene then enlarged these photographs to compare the markings with those obtained on the bullet that he had test-fired from the suspect's weapon.
Professor Balthazard (1912)
What was the significant challenge with microscopes before the development of the comparison microscope?
It was difficult to compare two bullets simultaneously
In the 1915 case of Charles F. Stielow, what led to the confirmation of his innocence?
Ballistics confirmed his innocence.
(Investigator Charles E. Waite re-evaluated the evidence with microscopy expert and confirmed that the bullets recovered from the crime scene couldn’t have been fired from Stielow’s gun.)
Who re-evaluated the evidence in the Charles F. Stielow case and helped confirm that the bullets couldn't have been fired from Stielow's gun?
Charles E. Waite
What significant contribution did Charles E. Waite make to the field of forensic ballistics?
Cataloged the manufacturing data on guns and ammunition
Who developed the comparison microscope that allowed for the simultaneous comparison of bullets?
Philip Gravelle
Which firearms were identified by examining bullets and cartridge cases recovered from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929?
12-gauge shotgun
Two Thompson submachine guns
Who established the first FBI Laboratory in 1932 and became known as the Father of Modern Ballistics?
Calvin Hooker Goddard
In what year was the Bureau of Forensic Ballistics established in New York?
1915
Who is the father of criminalistics?
Dr. Hans Gross
Gunpowder residue (GSR) should be found on the hand not the bullet. What does it indicate if GSR is found on the bullet?
Shot was fired at a close range
Evidence sufficiently useful to prove something important in a trial.
Probative Value
Who is considered the pioneer in the science of ballistics?
Alexander Lacassagne
Alexander Lacassagne was the first to recognize the significance of which specific evidence in linking a bullet to a gun?
Striations etched on the bullet
Who established the first forensic laboratory in France?
Edmond Locard
Edmond Locard is best known for formulating which principle that is fundamental to forensic science?
The Exchange Principle
In which country did Edmond Locard establish the first forensic laboratory?
France
Which of the following best describes the significance of the striations on a bullet, as recognized by Lacassagne?
They are unique markings that can link a bullet to a specific gun
These are pieces of evidence used to locate the suspect like personal belongings, physical materials like ID and wallet.
Trace evidence
Who was an expert in identifying firearms fired from bullets and dealt with procedures for measuring land and groove markings?
Dr. Albert Llewellyn Hall
What was Samuel Colt’s significant contribution to firearms?
Making the revolver
What was Henry Derringer best known for manufacturing?
The pocket pistol
What is the smallest pocket pistol called?
KOLIBRI
Who developed the Garand Rifle, a semiautomatic, gas-operated .30 caliber rifle adopted by the US Army in 1936?
John Garand
What type of weapon did John Garand develop that was a predecessor to the Garand Rifle?
hang-ranked machine gun
The Garand Rifle was adopted by the US Army in 1936. What type of rifle was it?
Semiautomatic, gas-operated
Which type of shotgun ammunition is composed of larger pellets that spread out less than birdshot and is effective for larger targets at short to medium range?
buckshot
Which characteristic best describes the shot pattern of birdshot ammunition?
Wide dispersion, making it easier to hit moving targets
What is the primary advantage of using a slug in a shotgun?
It minimizes spread and delivers a powerful impact
What are buckshot pellets primarily used for?
Engaging larger targets at short to medium range
Which shotgun ammunition type is specifically designed to hit moving targets due to its wide dispersal pattern?
birdshot
Who was responsible for the lasting design work related to the 9mm Parabellum cartridge?
Luger George
What type of cartridge did Luger George design in 1901?
Rimless tapered cartridge
What is a key characteristic of the single-shot rifle designed by John Browning?
It fires only one round before needing to be manually reloaded
Which company adopted the single-shot rifle designed by John Browning?
Winchester
Who were the key figures behind the production of parts for the rifle adopted by the German government in 1871?
Paul and Wilhelm Mauser
What was the name of the rifle produced by Paul and Wilhelm Mauser, which was adopted by the German government in 1871?
Mauser
What is a key feature of the double-action revolver produced by Smith & Wesson?
It allows the shooter to cock the hammer and fire the weapon in a single trigger pull
Which two individuals formed a partnership in 1852 to produce a highly regarded double-action revolver?
Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson
Who among the Smith & Wesson partnership eventually left the company to set up his own firearms business?
Wesson
Which of the following best describes the contribution of Wilhelm and Paul Mauser to firearm history?
They created parts for the Mauser rifle adopted by the German government in 1871
This refers to the motion of the projectile while inside the firearm.
Interior/Internal Ballistics
It is the noise or sound created at the muzzle due to sudden escape of the expanding gas coming in contact with the surrounding atmosphere.
Muzzle Blast
It is the science dealing with the motion of the projectiles after leaving the muzzle of the gun.
External Ballistics
What is a device that muffles the noise created by a gunshot by redirecting the burning gas through baffles and chambers, slowing and cooling the gas before it exits.
Silencer/Suppressor
It is the energy generated at the muzzle point whenever the cartridge explodes from a firearm.
Muzzle energy
What type of projectile flight occurs when the bullet is fired horizontally and travels in a straight line parallel to the ground?
Straight horizontal
What is the straight distance from the muzzle to the target?
Range