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Intro to Forensic Science > Test 3 > Flashcards

Test 3 Flashcards

1
Q

4 factors that contribute to the overwhelming number of crashes

A
  • Mechanical failure
  • Roadway design
  • Poor road maintenance
  • Driver behavior
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2
Q

Good quality tires for handling and agility, can be noisy and uncomfortable, higher priced

A

low profile tire

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3
Q

low cost, comfortable ride, good gas milage, bad stability and agility

A

high profile tire

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4
Q

everything but the tread and belt system

A

tire casing

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5
Q

the footprint of the tire; the point where the face of the tire meets the surface

A

contact patch

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6
Q

best for unpaved roads, sharp curves, and irregular intersections; 2 fixed base points all measurements made from here should be widely spaced for less error

A

triangulation method

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7
Q

best for roads with well defined edges and when measurements are within 25 ft of edge; road edge is first coordinate (zero/reference point); distance to object (measured at a right angle to first coordinate is second coordinate))

A

coordinate method

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8
Q

determining vehicle speed

A
  • skid distance
  • drag factor
  • road surface
  • braking efficiency
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9
Q

a tire mark on the road surface produced by a tire that is locked, not rotating

A

skid mark

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10
Q

the sum of the visible skid marks divided by the number of marks present

A

skid distance (D)

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11
Q

the interface between the tire and road surface

A

drag factor

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12
Q

visible evidence at accident scenes

A
  • yaw marks
  • acceleration scuffs
  • deceleration marks
  • imprint marks
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13
Q

left by a tire that is still rolling by simultaneously sliding laterally

A

yaw marks

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14
Q

components of disc brake

A
  • wheel bearing
  • caliper assembly
  • disc pads
  • wheel studs
  • disc/rotor
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15
Q

5 top reasons why tires fail

A
  • damaged
  • deterioration
  • overinflation
  • underinflation
  • age
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16
Q

top 4 reasons brakes fail

A
  • grease/oil on breaks
  • overheated
  • worn down brake pads
  • leaking brake fluid
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17
Q

if all 4 wheels brake evenly and leave 4 distinct skid marks, what is the braking efficiency?

A

100% or 1.0

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18
Q

Variables to calculate speed
S = √ 30 x D x f x n

A

S = minimum speed (mph)
30 = constant for equation
D = skid distance in decimal feet and inches
f = drag factor for the road surface
n = braking efficiency as a percent

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19
Q

What is the fire triangle?

A

oxygen, heat, fuel

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20
Q

examples of fuels

A

liquids - gasoline, acetone
solids - plastic, wood dust, fibers
gases - acetylene, propane, hydrogen

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21
Q

examples of oxidizers

A

gases - oxygen, fluorine, chlorine
liquids - hydrogen, peroxide, nitric acid
solids - metal peroxides, ammonium nitrate

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22
Q

examples of ignition sources

A

sparks, flames, static electricity, heat

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23
Q

what is a fire?

A

a rapid, self sustaining oxidation process usually accompanied by the evolution of heat and light in varying intensities

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24
Q

the rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner; the result, not the cause, of a rapid expansion of gases

A

explosion

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25
Q

ordinary solid combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth, and some plastics

A

class A fire

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26
Q

flammable liquids such as alcohol, ether, oil, gasoline and grease, which are best extinguished by smothering

A

class B fire

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27
Q

electrical equipment, appliances and wiring in which the use of a nonconductive extinguishing agent prevents injury from electrical shock. don’t use water

A

class C fire

28
Q

certain flammable metallic substances such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium

A

Class D fire

29
Q

classifications of fire

A
  • natural/accidental (Acts of God)
  • Criminal (arson)
  • suspicious (suspected to be arson although proof is lacking)
  • unknown origin
30
Q

what are all fires considered until proven otherwise?

A

natural/accidental

31
Q

intentionally destroying or damaging a dwelling or other property by means of fire or explosives or other incendiary or infernal device

A

arson

32
Q

fire or explosion which creates an imminent danger to life or great bodily harm, which risk was known or reasonably foreseeable to the actor

A

Aggravated arson

33
Q

3 questions of arson investigation

A

where did the fire originate?
how was the fire started?
was the cause of the fire an accident or set intentionally?

34
Q

profile of arson offender

A

white males, ~half under 18, broken/unstable homes, extensive criminal record, below average intelligence

35
Q

4 methods of collection/preservation of arson evidence

A
  • accelerant detection using k9s
  • electronic detectors
  • forensic light source/alternate light source
  • field flame/burn test
36
Q

what is a burn pattern

A
  • fires burn up not out
  • usually travel horizontally and follows the path of least resistance
  • fires are drawn toward ventilation and follow fuel path
  • V pattern - upwards then outwards
37
Q

boundary between charred and uncharred material; puddle shaped ________ __ __________ on floors or rugs may indicate the use of a liquid accelerant

A

line of demarcation

38
Q

mix of combustible substance and an oxidant that decomposes rapidly; usually used as propellants, including gun powders and pyrotechnics (smoke bombs, rockets, illumination devices)

A

low explosive

39
Q

extreme rapidity which decomposition occurs; action is known as detonation; mining, demolition, military warheads, dynamite, cordite, ballistite, pipe bomb, homemade explosives, c4 explosives, molotov cocktail

A

High explosives

40
Q

What is a document?

A

Any material substance that contains a representation of the thoughts of man by means of some mark or symbol

41
Q

What is a questioned document

A

a document in its entirety or in part is subject to question as to authenticity and/or origin

42
Q

Father of Questioned Document Examination and President of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners

A

Albert S. Osborn

43
Q

Provided crucial testimony in the Bruno Hauptmann trial

landmark case

As a result of his work and national attention, the questioned document field was included in many federal and state agencies

A

Lindbergh Baby Case

44
Q

Qualifications for Forensic Document Examiners:

A

Training programs
Proficiency tests
Peer reviews
Professional organizations
Continuing education
Lectures
Court testimony

45
Q

What is graphology?

A

the study of handwriting to reveal character traits of the writer

46
Q

A person who performs critical examinations on disputed documents in order to establish genueness or expose forgery

Studies scientifically the entire document in order to recognize the source or other evidence that can determine authenticity

A

Forensic Document Examiner

47
Q

what does a graphologist do? what can’t they determine?

A

profile a character or personality by drawing conclusions from certain types of characteristics in the handwriting sample; Do not compare handwriting to determine authenticity or origin; Lacks scientific proof

What cannot be determined with any degree of scientific certainty
Sex, writing hand, education, race, character, age, physical ability/disability

handwriting can be affected by illness, age, etc.
handwriting is just as unique as finger prints

48
Q

what happens to an individuals writing as they mature?

A

writing becomes more of a subconscious effort

Habitual styles, shapes, and patterns are formed which distinguishes one’s writing from another

Most evident with capital letters and numerals

Unconscious handwriting of two different individuals is never identical

Mechanical, physical, mental factors

49
Q

What is ACE?

A

3 step process of handwriting analysis

Analysis

Comparison

Evaluation

50
Q

3 different signatures

A

Formal – used for important documents

Routine – regular correspondence

Informal – used for jotting quick notes

51
Q

Significant similarities, no significant dissimilarities, or no associated with absent characters, dissimilarities or quantity of writing present

A

Identification

52
Q

Range of variation in the questioned and the known contains substantial significant similarities, there are no significant dissimilarities and limitations are present

A

highly probably did write

53
Q

Range of variation contains some significant similarities, no significant dissimilarities, limitations may be present

A

Probably did write

54
Q

How are conclusions determined in QDE?

A

Most conclusions are based on qualified opinions

Opinion need not be based on absolute certainty

55
Q

digital image taken through a microscope to show the magnified image of an item

1-50x magnification

A

Photomicrography

56
Q

use of film or image sensor that is sensitive to infrared light but blocks out visible light

A

Infrared

57
Q

The Dreyfus Case 1894

A

Alphonse Bertillon, the inventor of anthropometry, gave
testimony against a French army officer, Alfred Dreyfus.
* He was accused of treason through letters found,
attempting to sell French secrets to Germany.
* It wasn’t until years later, while Dreyfus was incarcerated,
that Bertillon’s mistaken opinion was challenged by well
known and established forensic document examiners in
England and the United States.
* With new evidence introduced, Dreyfus was finally
exonerated of the charges of treason.

58
Q

1910 individual who noted differences in his stroke differences which he associated with personality traits

A

Milton Newman Bunker

59
Q

Handwriting characteristics

A

slant, size, speed, connecting strokes, spacing, letter forms, i dot and t crossing

60
Q

Fire does not consume the entire material

A

charring

61
Q

Flaking or chipping of concrete

Rise in internal pressure due to evaporation

Internal cracking and thermal expansion

A

spalling

62
Q

what is crazing

A

rapid cooling of glass

63
Q

what is the point of origin

A

Established by area of deepest char

64
Q

what is an incendiary fire

A

Fire set intentionally by human activity

65
Q

examples of poor driver behavior

A

Distracted driving, speeding, tailgating, cutting others off, not using turn signals, merging improperly, not checking blind spots, driving under the influence, accelerating through yellow lights, not driving according to conditions

Intro to Forensic Science (2 decks)

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