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
During a federal investigation, a suspect's phone is seized. Under which legal authority does the FBI most commonly obtain digital evidence from a third-party cloud service provider?
Answer: Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) via court order or warrant
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act governs law enforcement access to stored electronic communications, typically requiring a warrant or court order depending on the data's age and type.
A forensic toxicologist receives blood and urine samples from a shooting suspect. Which sample is generally preferred for detecting recent drug use within the past 1-4 hours?
Answer: Blood, because it reflects current active drug concentration
Blood reflects the active (parent) drug concentration most accurately for recent use, as it represents what was circulating in the body at the time of collection.
When processing a crime scene involving a firearm, an agent notes a spent cartridge case with a rectangular firing pin impression rather than a circular one. This shape is characteristic of:
Answer: Shotguns
Shotguns typically have rectangular or oval firing pin impressions, while most pistols have circular or oval impressions, making the shape a useful class characteristic for weapon type identification.
In forensic pathology, the presence of petechial hemorrhages in the eyes and conjunctivae of a deceased individual is MOST indicative of:
Answer: Asphyxia or compression of neck vessels
Petechial hemorrhages result from increased intravascular pressure causing small vessel rupture, most commonly seen with asphyxia due to neck compression or strangulation.
An agent submits a questioned ransom note for forensic document examination. Which technique can determine the age of ink on paper by measuring the ratio of specific dye components?
Answer: Ink dating using solvent extraction and HPLC ratio analysis
Ink dating using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measures the ratio of dye components that degrade at known rates, allowing estimation of when ink was applied.
During evidence collection at a clandestine drug laboratory, investigators find a white powder suspected to be methamphetamine. Which field presumptive test produces a blue-purple color positive result for methamphetamine?
Answer: Marquis reagent
The Marquis reagent (sulfuric acid and formaldehyde) produces an orange-to-brown color for opioids and a blue-purple color for amphetamines including methamphetamine.
A forensic examiner analyzes tool marks left on a door frame during a burglary. To make a comparison cast of the tool marks, which casting material is most commonly used by FBI evidence technicians?
Answer: Mikrosil or Isomark silicone rubber
Silicone-based casting materials like Mikrosil capture fine surface detail with high fidelity and are preferred for tool mark and firearm evidence casting over gypsum-based materials.