Technology & Digital Tools Flashcards
7 cards from real ABFM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Technology & Digital Tools flashcards as text
In forensic ballistics, which technology allows investigators to digitally compare microscopic marks on bullets and cartridge cases to link them to a specific firearm?
Answer: Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS)
IBIS (Integrated Ballistics Identification System) digitally images and compares microscopic marks on bullets and cartridge cases to link fired ammunition to specific weapons or crime scenes.
Which technology is used to analyze the chemical composition of glass fragments in forensic trace evidence examination?
Answer: Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
LA-ICP-MS measures trace elemental composition of glass fragments with high sensitivity, enabling discrimination between glass samples from different sources.
In forensic toxicology, what is the primary advantage of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) over immunoassay screening?
Answer: It provides definitive compound identification with high sensitivity and specificity
LC-MS/MS provides definitive compound identification by measuring molecular mass and fragmentation patterns, eliminating cross-reactivity false positives common with immunoassay screening.
A forensic expert is asked to authenticate a digital photograph presented as evidence. Which approach is used to detect image manipulation?
Answer: Analyzing EXIF metadata and error level analysis (ELA)
EXIF metadata analysis reveals camera settings, timestamps, and GPS data, while Error Level Analysis (ELA) detects areas of an image with different compression levels that indicate editing.
Which technology is used in forensic entomology labs to precisely determine post-mortem interval by analyzing insect developmental stages?
Answer: Accumulated degree hours (ADH) calculations combined with temperature data loggers
ADH calculations integrate temperature data with insect developmental biology to estimate how long insects have been developing on remains, providing PMI estimates.
In forensic phonetics, which software-based tool is commonly used to visualize and analyze voice recordings for speaker comparison?
Answer: Praat acoustic analysis software
Praat is the standard forensic phonetics software that produces spectrograms, pitch analyses, and formant measurements used in speaker identification and voice comparison.
What does 'locard's exchange principle' imply for digital forensics in the context of modern cybercrime investigations?
Answer: Every digital interaction leaves traces in system logs, metadata, or network traffic
Applied to digital forensics, Locard's exchange principle means that digital interactions leave artifacts—log entries, cached data, network packets—even when perpetrators attempt to cover their tracks.