trace evidence
physical evidence found in small amounts at a crime scene
physical properties
characteristics that do not involve a change in the identity of a substance
malleable
capable of being shaped, bent or drawn out; flexible
chemical properties
characteristics that determine how a substance will change into another substance with different physical properties
solubility
able to be dissolved
forgery
item prepared with the intent to deceive or fraud
simulated forgery
made by copying a genuine signature
trace forgery
tracing a genuine signature onto a document using a light box or similar device
obliteration
removal of writing by physical or chemical means
indented writing
impressions left under paper that has been written on
firearm
portable gun, capable of firing a projectile using a confined explosive
ballistics
study of a firearm projectile in flight
gunpowder
mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur
cartridge
a case that holds a bullet, primer powder and gunpowder
bullet
projectile fired when a firearm is discharged
primer powder
used to ignite the gunpowder
breech
opposite end of the barrel attached to the firing mechanism where the cartridge is loaded and unloaded
rifles
long guns that have a barrel with spiral grooves that get fired from shoulder level
revolver
handgun with a rotating cylinder designed to be loaded with several cartridges to be fired in rapid succession
lands
ridges inside the barrel
groves
indentations inside the barrel
rifling pattern
lands and grooves on the barrel of the firearm to create a spiral pattern on a projectile
caliber
diameter of the bullet
recoil
force directed back into the gun when the explosive force pushes the bullet out of the gun
GSR
soot and particles of unburned gunpowder deposited on a person who discharges a firearm
trajectory
path of a projectile and bullet
OSAC
coordinates the development of standards and guideline that improve the quality and reliability of evidence produced by forensic science
blind forgery
made without a model of signature or writing being forged
exemplar
known samples used for comparison
hammer
strikes the back of the cartridge igniting the primer powder which detonates the gunpowder
diacritics
crossing of the t's and dotting of the i's and j's
NIBIN
National Integrated Ballistics Information Network