Deck 8: Firearms and Toolmark Evidence

Question 1

Ballistics is the study of a projectile in motion.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Bullets are commonly made from lead, a hard and lightweight metal.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The identification of firearms involves determining whether a bullet, cartridge case, or other ammunition was discharged, extracted, or ejected from a specific firearm.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

When preparing for transportation from the crime scene, the cylinder of a revolver should be secured in the closed position.

Question 5

When possible, bullets that are embedded in wood or other material should be carefully removed before transporting to the lab.

Question 6

There are two categories of firearms

A) handguns and long guns
B) pistols and shotguns
C) pistols and revolvers
D) rifles and shotguns

Question 7

All types of cartridge ammunition include

A) projectile, bullet, powder, and primer
B) primer, projectile, powder, and cartridge\shell casing
C) bullet, primer, projectile, and cartridge\shell casing
D) none of the above

Question 8

Bullets are generally made from

A) steel
B) iron
C) lead
D) any hard metal

Question 9

Some types of bullets include

A) ball, wad-cutter, and full metal jacket
B) semi-metal jacket, ball, and elongated
C) full metal jacket, elongated, and ball
D) ball, hard-point, and wad-cutter

Question 10

Class characteristics of bullets include

A) caliber, number of lands and grooves, and length of bullet
B) width of lands and grooves, caliber, and degree of twist
C) direction of twist, number of lands and grooves, and firing pin size
D) caliber, firing pin location, and degree of twist

Question 11

Which is NOT a conclusion a firearms examiner can render in comparison of a suspect weapon to recovered bullets?

A) The bullet was fired by the suspect gun.
B) Class characteristics and striations do not match; therefore, the suspect gun is excluded.
C) Class characteristics match, but striations do not; therefore, the suspect gun is excluded.
D) Class characteristics match, but striations do not; therefore, the results are inconclusive.

Question 12

The portion of the cartridge that is extracted and ejected from the chamber of a pistol after the bullet has been fired is referred to as the

A) spent shell casing
B) fired shell casing
C) discharged shell casing
D) none of the above

Question 13

According to the text, whenever a shot pattern is present at the crime scene and cannot be submitted to the laboratory, a _______ photograph should be taken.

A) scaled
B) enlarged
C) detailed
D) black and white

Question 14

A firearm recovered under water should be

A) completely dried first, then packaged for transportation
B) sealed in a plastic bag and submerged in the same water
C) immediately sealed in a plastic bag before drying
D) allowed to dry and then sealed in a cardboard box