Chapter 4 Test Bank

I. Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which of the following types of pattern evidence has the potential to be individualized?
a) Gunshot residue patterns
b) Track and Trail patterns
c) Handwriting patterns
d) Blood spatter patterns
e) Fire burn patterns
Answer: c

2. Medium velocity impact blood spatter stains are generally of what size?
a) Smaller in size than high-velocity bloodstain patterns
b) Smaller in size than low-velocity bloodstain patterns
c) Greater in size than low-velocity bloodstain patterns
d) Very small, mist-like stain
e) Similar in size to those created by high-impact forces
Answer: c

3. An object falling through space by the force of gravity reaches a terminal velocity speed of:
a) 3.2 ft/sec
b) 32 ft/sec
c) 3.2 m/sec
d) 32 m/sec
e) None of the above
Answer: b

4. Which of the following factors influence the final appearance of a bloodstain that is formed
when a blood droplet strikes a surface?
a) The impact angle
b) The volume of blood
c) Target surface absorbency
d) Target surface texture
e) All of the above
Answer: e

5. A blood droplet striking a non-absorbent smooth surface at an 80 degree angle of

incidence would form a bloodstain with the following shape:
a) A highly elongated ellipse
b) Nearly circular
c) A perfect sphere
d) A perfect circle
e) Slightly elliptical
Answer: a
6. The examination of cast-off patterns created by the swinging of a hammer with a bloody
head can provide:
a) The number of attackers
b) The time of the attack
c) The location of the attack
d) The type of hammer used
e) All of the above
Answer: c

7. Tangential fracture lines have the following characteristics:

a) Radiate outward from the point of impact
b) Encircle the point of impact
c) Form a crater or cone at the point of impact
d) Form hackle marks at the point of impact
e) Are also called contact deposit patterns
Answer: b

8. The examination of radial and tangential fracture lines on glass that has been struck by two
projectiles in sequence can provide the following information:
a) The direction from which the projectiles struck the glass
b) The density of the glass
c) The sequence by which the projectiles struck the glass
d) The refractive index of the glass
e) Both a and c
Answer: e

9. The "3R Rule" relates to what type of pattern evidence?

a) Footwear patterns
b) Broken glass patterns
c) Blood spatter patterns
d) Tire and Skid mark patterns
e) Handwriting patterns
Answer: b

10. Track and Trail patterns can provide the following helpful crime scene reconstruction
information:
a) The type of footwear
b) The lack of footwear
c) The number of individuals at the scene
d) All of the above
e) Only a and b
Answer: d

11. Skid mark patterns can provide the following helpful crime scene reconstruction
information:
a) The make and model of the vehicle involved
b) The location of the accident
c) The direction of movement of the vehicle
d) All of the above
e) Only b and c
Answer: e

12. GSR is an acronym used by forensic science to represent:

a) Glass Surface Reconstruction
b) General Scene Reconstruction
c) Gunshot Residue
d) Gunshot Recoil
e) Gun Shooting Range
Answer: c

13. Gun shot residue particles are very small and generally do not travel distances that are
greater than:
a) 24 mm
b) 24 cm
c) 24 m
d) 24 inches
e) 24 feet
Answer: d

14. Which of the following methods would help to visualize gun shot residue on a colored
clothing surface?
a) Sodium Rhodizonate chemical reagent
b) Luminol chemical reagent
c) Infrared photography
d) All of the above
e) Only a and c
Answer: e

15. Gun shot residue patterns around a bullet hole are used to determine:
a) The caliber of the weapon used
b) The muzzle to target distance
c) The caliber of the ammunition used
d) The size of the shot shell pellets
e) The condition of the weapon's barrel
Answer: b

16. The science which studies the flight of a firearm's projectile through the air is called:
a) Firearms examination
b) GSR determinations
c) Wound ballistics
d) Ballistics
e) Range determinations
Answer: d

17. A "V" shaped pattern is typically associated with:

a) Drive-by shootings
b) Arson cases
c) Assault cases with blood spatter evidence
d) B & E cases with glass fracture patterns
e) Hit & Run case with skid marks
Answer: b

18. Criminal profiling refers to:

a) DNA profile comparisons
b) Genetic profiling
c) The study of serial crimes & repeat offenders
d) Facial reconstructions from found remains
e) Police sketches of possible suspects
Answer: c

19. A bullet hole on the victim's clothing would be an example of:

a) An injury pattern
b) A wound pattern
c) A damage pattern
d) A high velocity pattern
e) A fracture pattern
Answer: c

20. Which of the following patterns can be used for crime scene reconstruction?
a) Tire and Skid mark patterns
b) Bullet trajectory patterns
c) Shoeprint patterns
d) Blood spatter patterns
e) All of the above
Answer: e

II. True or False Questions:

1. A blood droplet striking a smooth surface at a zero degree angle of incidence will produce
a stain that is elliptical in shape.
Answer: False

2. A wipe pattern is created when a bloody object that is in motion contacts another surface.
Answer: False

3. The 3R rule for glass breakage states "The force was applied on the right side of the glass
from the side that shows right angle hackle marks when viewing the edge of a radial crack."
Answer: False

4. The cone-shaped pattern at the point of impact of a projectile with a glass window would
be expected to be wider on the "exit" side.
Answer: True
5. The length of the tire impression marks at an accident scene can be used to determine the
speed of the vehicle at the time the operator applied the brakes.
Answer: False

6. Clothing or objects scattered around a residential crime scene may provide indications of a
struggle or simply reflect the typical living conditions of the owner.
Answer: True

7. GSR residues deposited around a bullet hole can often be visualized using chemical
procedures such as the Luminol test.
Answer: False

8. The trajectory of a projectile can be determined by examining both the radial and tangential
fracture lines in a broken pane of glass.
Answer: False

9. Fire burn patterns are only helpful to the investigation of an arson case.
Answer: False

10. Criminal profiling creates a hypothetical picture of an offender in an unsolved case.

Answer: True

III. Short Answer:

1. Distinguish between reconstruction and individualization patterns and provide two
examples for each:
Answer:
A reconstruction pattern is used primarily to help reconstruct past events. Examples include
blood spatter and glass fracture patterns.
An individualization pattern is used primarily to uniquely associate the pattern with an item or
person responsible for it. Example include fingerprint and tire impressions are examples.

2. Distinguish between a wipe and a swipe bloodstain pattern.

Answer:
A wipe pattern is created when an object in motion contacts an existing bloody surface.
A swipe pattern is created when a bloody object in motion contacts another surface.

3. Explain what pattern is usually formed at the point of impact of a projectile with a piece of
glass and how it is used to determine the "entry" and "exit" sides.
Answer:
If the glass remains intact after impact, it is often possible to discern a cone-shaped pattern at
the point of impact. The smaller end of the cone is on the side to which the force was
applied. The glass surface corresponding to the smaller side of the cone is referred to as the
"entry side", the other side as the "exit."

4. What helpful information can be gained by examining Track and Trail pattern evidence?
Answer:
The number of people that were present at the scene.
The direction(s) of movement at the scene.
Where they went after the incident.
The type of footwear worn, if any.
Whether any object or body was dragged at the scene.

5. What helpful information can be gained by examining Tire and Skid mark patterns at an
accident scene?
Answer:
The number of vehicles involved.
The exact location of the accident.
The direction of movement of the vehicle or vehicles involved.
The speed of the vehicles at the time the breaks were applied.

6. Explain how a firearms examiner would perform a muzzle to target distance estimation
using GSR patterns.
Answer:
To obtain an estimate of the muzzle-to-target distance an examiner performs a series of test
fires on the firing range using the same weapon and ammunition thought to have been used
in the case. The test patterns are then compared to the crime scene GSR patterns to make
an estimate of shooting distance.

7. What information can be provided by trajectory reconstructions in a shooting incident?

Answer:
Trajectory reconstructions determine the path of flight from the muzzle of the weapon to the
target. The information can help to estimate the position of the shooter, any movements of
the victim or shooter, and any intermediate targets.

8. What types of patterns can be found at fire scenes and what helpful information can they
provide to the fire investigation?
Answer:
'V' patterns can help determine the point or points of origin of a fire.
Smoke patterns can help to determine the pathway followed by the fire.
Material melting patterns can provide an estimate of the temperatures that the fire may have
reached.

9. What information is used by a criminal profiler in developing a hypothetical picture of an

offender in an unsolved case?
Answer:
Criminal profiling is based on the detailed analysis of numerous repeat offender cases. All of
the scene patterns resulting from the offender's activities are taken into account, along with
all of the pathology and forensic science laboratory results, and a knowledge of human
behavior and psychology.

10. Distinguish between a wound pattern and a damage pattern and provide an example for
each.
Answer:
A wound pattern is one that is found on a human body, characteristic of the type of event
which created it. For example, a shooting may produce entry and exit wounds helpful to the
reconstruction of the incident.
A damage pattern often refers to patterns seen on clothing, characteristic of the type of event
which created it. For example, a bullet hole in a shooting case may have GSR residue
patterns around it indicating the close proximity of the shooter.

IV. Essay Questions:

1. Name six types of bloodstain patterns that could be found at a crime scene, describe their
distinguishing characteristics and indicate how they could be produced.
Answer (all possibilities are given):
i) Blood pooling - a pool of liquid blood formed by falling droplets from a bleeding source that
is stationary.
ii) Blood trails - Individual stains formed by falling droplets from a bleeding source which is in
motion.
iii) Contact deposit patterns - results when a bloody object coming into direct contact with a
surface, producing a pattern in blood of the object which created it.
iv) Wipe patterns - created when an object in motion contacts an existing bloody surface and
smears the blood over the surface.
v) Swipe patterns - created when a bloody object in motion contacts a surface and creates a
smear of blood.
vi) Arterial Spurt pattern - results when an artery is cut or severed and blood is pumped out of
the body by the beating heart onto a nearby surface. Generally large volume stains with a
repeating spurt pattern.
vii) Cast-off patterns - results when a bloody object is swung through space and throws off
droplets onto a nearby surface. Often found on ceilings due to the repeated use of blunt
force on a bleeding victim.
viii) Running patterns - results when a large volume of blood strikes a vertical surface, and
the excess volume runs down due to the effects of gravity.
viii) Secondary spatter patterns - results when blood drops fall into a preexisting pool of blood
causing small droplets to splash upward.

2. Describe and distinguish between low, medium and high velocity impact blood spatter
patterns. Provide an example of a situation that would produce each type of pattern.
Answer:
i) A low-velocity blood spatter pattern is any pattern formed where gravity is the only force
acting on the blood. Examples include dripping blood patterns.
ii) A medium-velocity blood spatter pattern is formed when moderate force from some object
causes blood to scatter in all directions from the point of contact. The force produces smaller
droplets and therefore smaller stains than in low-velocity impact situations. These patterns
are typically produced by blunt force contacting a bleeding source.
iii) A high-velocity blood spatter pattern is a result of extreme force acting on a blood source,
such as a gunshot or explosion incident. Many of the droplet stains are very small (aerosol
like) and more numerous that in medium velocity patterns.
3. What is the relationship between bloodstain shape and the angle of incidence? Define the
angle of incidence and explain how the angle is estimated from a single elliptical bloodstain?
How does one use the estimated angles to reconstruct the events which created the pattern?
Answer:
i) The shape of a bloodstain reflects the angle the droplet impacted the surface. A droplet
falling at a right angle to a surface produces a circular stain. As the angle changes, the
stains become more and more elliptical.
ii) The angle of incidence is the angle at which a blood droplet impacts a surface, measured
with respect to an imaginary line perpendicular to that surface. It can be estimated from the
shape of the resulting bloodstain. There is a simple mathematical relationship between the
dimensions of the ellipse and the angle of impact. The relationship is based on the
trigonometric function known as the cosine. The major (long) and minor (short) diameters of
the ellipse are measured and the ratio of the minor to major dimensions is calculated. The
ratio value is equal to the cosine of the angle of incidence (cosθ = minor diameter/major
diameter), where θ (theta) is the angle of incidence.
iii) In medium-velocity bloodstain patterns, the angle of incidence is calculated for a selection
of bloodstains. Straight lines (strings, wires etc.) are drawn from each of the measured
bloodstains at the estimated angles in order to determine any convergence point(s) that
represent the origin of blood that formed the pattern.

4. Describe the glass fracture patterns that would occur if a window pane is struck by two
bullets in a shooting incident, creating two closely spaced bullet holes. Use an illustration to
show the different types of patterns that could be formed in such an incident if the glass broke
but remained intact. Explain how these patterns can be used for reconstruction purposes.
Answer:
Diagrams similar to the ones shown in Figures 4.6 and 4.10 should be drawn and properly
labeled.
i) Point of impact patterns - a cone shaped hole should form at the point of impact. The
smaller end of the cone is on the glass side first struck by the bullet, and this surface is
referred to as the "entry side". The larger end of the cone will be on the opposite side of the
glass and will be referred to as the "exit" side. By examining the shape of the cones for the
two bullet holes, it can be determined whether the bullets came from the same or opposite
directions.
ii) The radial and tangential fracture lines - radiating outward from the point of contact are
radial fracture lines. Tangential fracture lines appear to encircle the point of impact. Both
radial and tangential fracture lines stop at any pre-existing fracture lines. By examining the
fracture patterns produced by both projectiles, one can possibly determine the order
(sequence) by which the bullets struck the window pane.

5. Provide definitions for projectile trajectory, GSR patterns, and wound patterns and explain
how they are helpful to the reconstruct of events at a shooting incident.
Answer:
i) Trajectory - is the path of flight of a projectile from the muzzle of the weapon to the target.
Trajectory information can help to estimate the position of the shooter, any movements of the
victim or shooter, and any intermediate targets struck by the projectile during its flight.
ii) GSR patterns - GSR particles are deposited on target surfaces around the bullet hole,
providing that the target surface is not too far away from the muzzle of the weapon. As the
distance between the muzzle and target increase, the quantity of residue particles striking the
surface decrease. To estimate of the muzzle-to-target distance an examiner performs a
series of test fires on the firing range using the same weapon and ammunition thought to
have been used in the case. The test patterns are then compared to the crime scene GSR
patterns to make an estimate of the shooting distance. If the victim is clothed at the time of
the shooting, the GSR patterns will be found on the clothing surface deposited around the
bullet hole. If not, the GSR patterns will be present on the skin surface around the bullet
hole.
iii) Wound patterns - are those found on the human body. Pathologists examine the wound
patterns to determine if the patterns are consistent with the specific events. Bullet
penetration wounds on uncovered skin can show GSR patterns, and entry and exit wounds
can be distinguished by their different characteristics.