Forensic Science & Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real FBI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Forensic Science & Analysis flashcards as text
A forensic examiner determines a bullet's caliber by measuring its diameter. A bullet measuring approximately 9mm in diameter is consistent with which of the following cartridges?
Answer: 9mm Luger (9x19mm)
The 9mm Luger (9x19mm Parabellum) uses a bullet that is approximately 9mm (0.355 inches) in diameter, making it the direct match.
When documenting a shooting scene, agents use the term 'entrance wound characteristic' to describe a feature. Which feature is most reliably associated with a contact gunshot entrance wound?
Answer: Muzzle contusion ring (stellate tearing)
Contact wounds show stellate (star-shaped) tearing caused by hot propellant gases entering tissue and expanding rapidly before exiting, creating a characteristic pattern.
In a questioned document examination, an examiner is asked to determine if two signatures were written by the same person. Which class of handwriting characteristic is examined FIRST?
Answer: Class characteristics such as letter forms and proportions
Class characteristics, including general letter forms, spacing, and proportions, are assessed first to determine if signatures belong to the same broad writing system before examining individual characteristics.
An FBI lab receives a soil sample from a suspect's boots. Which forensic discipline would analyze mineral composition and pollen content to associate the soil with a specific geographic location?
Answer: Forensic geology and palynology
Forensic geology analyzes mineral composition while palynology examines pollen and spores, together providing geographic location evidence through soil comparison.
Which type of fingerprint pattern is the most common in the general population, accounting for approximately 65% of all fingerprints?
Answer: Loop
Loop patterns are the most common fingerprint pattern type, found in approximately 60-65% of the population, with whorls second at about 30-35%.
When analyzing trace evidence from a hit-and-run vehicle, glass fragments are recovered from the victim's clothing. Which optical property is MOST useful for comparing glass fragments?
Answer: Refractive index
Refractive index is the most discriminating optical property for glass comparison because it is highly specific to each glass batch and can be measured precisely using oil immersion techniques.
An agent collects fibers from a kidnapping victim's clothing. The forensic examiner uses polarized light microscopy to analyze the fibers. What fiber characteristic is best determined by this technique?
Answer: Birefringence and fiber type classification
Polarized light microscopy measures birefringence (the difference in refractive indices), which helps classify fiber type such as distinguishing natural from synthetic fibers.