vocab

Question 1

secondary transfer

Answer 1

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 2

fiber

Answer 2

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

Question 3

amorphous

Answer 3

Without a defined shape or form; fibers composed of a loose arrangement of polymers that are soft, elastic, and absorbent (ex., cotton); applied to a solid, it refers to having atoms that are arranged randomly instead of in a distinctive pattern

Question 4

synthetic fibers

Answer 4

Outdoor wear, such as fleece is often made from these fibers produced from manufactured items like plastic

Question 5

yarn

Answer 5

Fibers that have been spun together

Question 6

textiles

Answer 6

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

Question 7

weft

Answer 7

A crosswise yarn or thread in a weave

Question 8

crystalline

Answer 8

Geometrically shaped; fibers composed of polymers packed side by side, which makes them stiff and strong (ex., flax)

Question 9

cotton

Answer 9

The most common plant fiber used in textiles

Question 10

direct transfer

Answer 10

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

Question 11

thread count

Answer 11

The number of threads that are packed together for any given amount of fabric

Question 12

infrared microscope

Answer 12

A microscope that uses infrared light (light waves found between visible light and microwaves) as its source for viewing a sample’s heat profile

Question 13

polarizing microscope

Answer 13

A microscope that uses a filter to produce parallel light rays to view the 3D structure of solid samples

Question 14

flax

Answer 14

The most common stem fiber and is most commonly found in the textile linen

Question 15

Coir

Answer 15

a coarse fiber obtained from the outside of a coconut

Question 16

Regenerated fibers

Answer 16

Derived from cellulose and are mostly plant in origin. The most common of this type is rayon. It is a fiber that can imitate natural fibers and generally smooth and silky

Question 17

Manilla

Answer 17

A fiber extracted from the leaves of abacá, a relative of the banana tree

Question 18

Warp

Answer 18

a lengthwise yarn or thread in a weave

Question 19

Silk

Answer 19

This animal fiber is collected from the cocoons of the caterpillar Bombyx mo

Question 20

Natural fibers

Answer 20

Fibers made from plants, animals, or minerals

Question 21

Wool

Answer 21

the most common animal hair used in textiles

Question 22

Cellulose

Answer 22

a type of carbohydrate that makes up plant fibers

Question 23

Polymers

Answer 23

long strings that make up synthec fibers