lqc 1a exam qs

Question 1

explain why the ambient temperature and the core temperature of the body are used to determine the time of death of a person (3)

Answer 1

temperature of the body changes with time of death, core temperature depends upon the ambient temperature, other post death changes depend on the ambient/body temperature,

Question 2

a body was found naked, lying stretched out and in still air, explain how a change in each of these three factors could affect the estimated time of death (3)

Answer 2

for the clothes body the estimate was too short as the clothing would reduce heat loss as clothing would insulate, for the body curled up the estimate was too short as heat loss is reduced as the exposed surface area was smaller, for the moving air the estimate was too long as moving air speeds up heat loss

Question 3

explain how measuring the body temperature of the dead animal can be used to estimate the time of death (4)

Answer 3

body temp measured in discovery, body temp decreases with time after death, body temp of dead animal depends on ambient temperature, working backwards to estimate the time of death

Question 4

explain one named method, other than measuring body temperature can be used to estimate the time of death

Answer 4

state of rigor, looking at the degree of rigor, ambient temperature has to be taken in account, method has limitations ie rigor occurs in first few hours