Chapter 4 Vocabulary

Question 1

Amorphous

Answer 1

Without a defined shape; fibers composed of a loose arrangement of polymers that are soft, elastic, and absorbing (for example, cotton).

Question 2

Crystalline

Answer 2

Regularly shaped; fibers composed of polymers packed side-by-side, which make it stiff and strong (for example, flax).

Question 3

Direct Transfer

Answer 3

The passing of evidence, such as the fiber, from victim to suspect or vice versa.

Question 4

Fiber

Answer 4

The smallest indivisible unit of a textile, it must be a least 100 times longer than wide.

Question 5

Mineral Fiber

Answer 5

A collection of mineral crystals formed into a recognizable pattern.

Question 6

Monomer

Answer 6

A small molecule that may bond to other monomers to become a polymer.

Question 7

Natural Fiber

Answer 7

A fiber produced naturally and harvested from animal, plant, or mineral sources.

Question 8

Polymer

Answer 8

A substance composed of long chains of repeating units.

Question 9

Synthetic Fiber

Answer 9

A fiber made from a man-made substance such as plastic.

Question 10

Secondary Transfer

Answer 10

The transfer of evidence such as a fiber from a source (for example, a carpet) to a person (suspect), and then to another person (victim).

Question 11

Textile

Answer 11

A flexible, flat material made by interlacing yarns (or “threads”).

Question 12

Yarn

Answer 12

Fibers that have been spun together.