Forensic Ballistics Analysis Concepts

What are the three main categories of ballistics discussed in forensic analysis?

• Internal, External, and Terminal

• Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary

• Initial, Mid-flight, and Impact

• Pre-fire, In-flight, and Post-impact

Which of the following are distinct components of ammunition?

• Cartridge, casing, and bullet

• Primer, powder, and projectile

• Shell, slug, and shot

• Barrel, chamber, and magazine

What happens to a shell casing after a cartridge is fired from a weapon?

• It always remains inside the weapon

• It is always ejected from the weapon

• It either remains inside or is ejected from the weapon

• It disintegrates upon firing

How do bullets typically deform when striking different targets?

• They always maintain their original shape

• They flatten out, dent, or fragment

• They melt and fuse with the target

• They become perfectly spherical

What is "bullet wipe" and what does it indicate?

• The clean path a bullet makes through a surface

• Residue left on the bullet from the target

• Burnt gunshot residue and barrel residue wiped off the bullet as it passes through a surface

• The mark left by a bullet ricocheting off a surface

When examining a bullet hole in a wooden surface, how can one distinguish an exit hole from an entrance hole?

• Entrance holes are always larger than exit holes

• Exit holes show fibers pushed in the direction of the bullet's travel, while entrance holes show material pushed in

• Entrance holes have a dark substance around them, while exit holes do not

• Exit holes are perfectly circular, while entrance holes are irregular

What characteristic of a bullet hole in a surface can help determine the bullet's directionality, especially if it glances along the surface?

• The color of the bullet wipe

• The presence of a symmetrical U-shape at the entry point that becomes asymmetrical as it travels

• The depth of the penetration

• The amount of fragmentation

What is the initial step in calculating the angles of a bullet's entry into a surface?

• Calculate the azimuth angle

• Calculate the vertical angle

• Use a plumb bob to determine the angle

• Attach a laser to the trajectory rod

Which tool is used to measure the vertical angle of a bullet's trajectory?

• Protractor

• Plumb bob

• Inclinometer

• Laser pointer

After calculating the vertical angle, what is the next step in determining a bullet's trajectory?

• Calculate the cone of tolerance

• Measure the bullet's velocity

• Calculate the azimuth angle

• Document the impact mark