Download Name___________________________

Name___________________________
Period___________________________
Date___________________________
Forensic Science
Physical Evidence Study Guide
1.
What is physical evidence? Give 3 examples of physical evidence that may be found at a crime
scene.
2. Why should all items of evidence be placed in separate containers?
3. What is forensic anthropology? List 2 ways in which a forensic anthropologist may identify a
victim.
4. What does a forensic entomologist study to estimate time of death?
5. The term ______________________________ encompasses all objects that can establish
whether a crime has been committed or can link a crime and its victim to its perpetrator.
6. The process of ____________________________________ determines a substance’s physical or
chemical identity with as near absolute certainty as existing analytical techniques will permit.
7. State Locard’s Principle and then explain it in your own words.
8. Name two ways that hair can be used to help an investigation.
9. Name three sources of fibers. What is the main use of fibers in an investigation?
10. How do forensic scientists use ballistics to match a gun to a bullet?
11. What is an example of a class characteristic and an individual characteristic of paint?
12. What does GSR stand for?
13. What does IBIS stand for?
14. What are fracture lines?
15. What does CODIS stand for?
16. What types of tissues can be used for DNA collection?
17. Name 4 things that can be determined from skeletal remains.
18. What do they look for when analyzing documents?
19. What can be determined from a wound?
20. What are the three major classes of fingerprints?
21. List 3 types of impression evidence and describe how it is analyzed.
22. How can soil be used as physical evidence in an investigation?
23. What does a unit look for in terms of explosives?
24. How may glass be used in an investigation?
25. When they are investigating a drug as physical evidence what do they look for?
26. What types of physiological fluids are collected at a crime scene?
27. What are the four types of analysis that are performed? Give at least one example of each.