Download The Chemistry and Physics of Forensics Syllabus 2015

The Chemistry and Physics of Forensics
Course Objectives and Requirements
Instructor: Mrs. Amanda Batty
E-mail: [email protected]
Extra Help Hours: By appointment
Office: Room 325 or 325A
CPF is a science class designed to allow for student mastery of the Next Generation
Science Standards (NGSS) for physical science in a fun and engaging manner, using the
field of Forensic Science. Important chemistry and physics concepts will be taught
through hands on forensic investigations. This course is designed to help students see
how science is used to answer real questions in the real world. Students will have the
opportunity to be scientists, not just students who study science.
"Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even
unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him.”
Professor Edmond Locard, father of Locard's Exchange Principle
Forensics is a diverse field, and rarely are forensic scientists people who specialize in all
aspects of forensic science. Forget what you see on CSI. Forensic scientists rarely
interview suspects or make arrests, and they are not experts in all areas of forensic
investigations. Rather, forensic experts usually specialize in one or two branches of
forensic investigation. This course will specifically focus on how chemistry and physics
are used in the field of forensic science.
Chemists may specialize in forensic toxicology or arson analysis. People with expertise in
physics may focus on firearms and ballistics or blood spatter analysis. These topics will
be the foundations for this course.
Requirements:
1.) Treat your classmates with respect. We are all equal in this class and you will be
expected to treat each other in a manner that is appropriate. This means that you
will not use foul language, interrupt when someone is speaking or deliberately
distract the class. Cheating will not be tolerated. Waterford High School
administration and your parents will be notified.
2.) Cell phones should be kept away unless I ask you to use them for an activity.
Studies have shown that the distraction provided by a cell phone causes students to
perform 20% below their ability on assignments – that’s two whole letter
grades! PLEASE- keep your phone use to a minimum in my classroom. I respect
your need to use it, but please respect my time to teach you.
3.) Follow all safety rules in the lab. This includes no food or beverages allowed in the
classroom during labs. I have zero tolerance for disruptive behavior, especially in
lab. It is simply too dangerous. You will be removed immediately from lab and
receive a zero should disruptive behavior occur or if you do not follow safety
procedures. A request for your permanent removal from the class could occur if
your behavior continues.
4.) We will be creating an interactive notebook over the course of the semester. You
are required to have a 3 ring binder (preferably 2” thick) that you will bring with
you to every class. Please see me if you are unable to get a binder and I will get
one for you.
Grading:
Grading is based on a point system for this class. For example, if a homework
assignment is out of ten points and you had one incorrect answer, your grade would be
9/10. Percentages will be used to give more weight to certain assignments such as tests
and projects.
Assessments
There will be 2 to 3 tests given each quarter. These assessments
will be factored in as 25% of your grade
Lab work
You will be evaluated based on your participation and the
completion of the required work. These assignments will have the
greatest influence on your grade in this course. Labs will be worth
40% of your quarter grade.
Homework
Homework is designed to help reinforce the work we do in class.
Homework will count as 10% of your quarter grade.
Classwork
Class Participation
Notebook
Your role in this class is very important. In order to be successful
you will need to take part in all activities. This will be worth 25% of
your quarter grade.
The Chemistry and Physics of Forensics Course Outline
Unit 1
The Basics of Becoming a Forensic Scientist
This introductory unit provides an overview of chemistry, the scientific method and the role
of forensic scientists. Methods of classifying matter and the changes they undergo are
emphasized.
Lesson
General Overview
Topics Covered
 Syllabus
1
Welcome!
 Safety
Becoming a Forensic Scientist –  Steps of the scientific method applied
2
The Scientific Method
to the crime scene
 Pure substances
 Elements
3
Types of Physical Evidence
 Compounds
 Mixtures
 SI units
 Metric system prefixes
 Derived SI units (density and
4
Physical Evidence Collection
temperature)
 Sig figs
 Precision
 Accuracy
 Physical properties
 Physical changes
5
Preserving Physical Evidence
 Chemical properties
 Chemical changes
 Separation of mixtures
6
Evidence Analysis
Unit 2
Chemical Nature of Evidence
How chemists represent chemical formulas and name substances are explained from the
perspective of how these are derived. The periodic table is used to predict the charges and
formulas of monatomic and polyatomic ions.
Lesson
General Overview
Topics Covered
 Dalton, Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr
 Electrons, protons, and neutrons
The Evolution of the Atomic
 Isotopes
1
Theory
 Atomic number
 Mass number
 Element symbols
Atomic Structure and the Periodic  Organization of the periodic table
2
Table
 Classifying the elements on the periodic
3
Elements, Compounds, and
Chemical Formulas
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4
Writing Formulas for Ionic
Compounds

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5
Naming Ionic Compounds
6
Writing and Naming Formulas for
Molecular Compounds


table
Formation of ionic compounds
Formation of molecular compounds
Notation of a chemical formula
(subscripts)
Learning the common ions and
determining oxidation numbers
Writing formulas for binary and ternary
ionic compounds
Writing formulas of transition metal
compounds
Naming binary and ternary ionic
compounds
Naming transition metal compounds
Names and formulas of binary
molecular compounds
Unit 3
Identification of Chemical Evidence
Mole, mass or particle ratios based on a chemical formula are used to determine the
experimental proportions of the elements present in a compound. Calculations of percent
composition by mass, empirical formulas, true molecular formulas are illustrated.
Lesson
General Overview
Topics Covered
 Atomic mass and the periodic table
1
Measuring Atoms in the Laboratory  Avogadro’s number and the mole
 Molar mass
 Using dimensional analysis to convert
2
Using the Mole as a Unit
between mass, moles, and number of
atoms/molecules
Identifying Unknown Substances
 Law of Definite Composition
3
using Mass Spectroscopy
 Calculating % composition
 Determining empirical formulas
Identifying Unknown Substances
4
 Determining molecular formulas from
using Mass Spectroscopy
empirical formulas
 Law of Conservation of Matter
Identifying Type of Evidence
5
 Interpretation of chemical equations
Through Chemical Reactions
 Coefficients vs. subscripts
 Writing a balanced chemical equation
6
Chemical Equation Basics
 Balancing chemical equations by
inspection
Unit 4
Accident Reconstruction
The nature of exothermic versus endothermic reactions will be studied by calorimetry
experiments. Stoichiometry and Hess’ Law will be applied to calculate energy changes that
occur.
Lesson
General Overview
1
Newton’s Laws
2
Conservation of Momentum
3
Law of Conservation of Energy
Topics Covered


Types of energy Units of energy
Transferring energy

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Physical Properties
Comparing Glass Fragments
Glass Fractures
Collection and Preservation of Glass
Evidence

First Law of Thermodynamics
Unit 5
Identifying Evidence in an Explosion
How does residue from an explosion provide investigators with the name, type and
shipping information of an explosive used in a crime? The nature of heat transfer, gas
laws and the kinetic molecular theory will be applied to data collected from explosions..
Physics topics associated with thrust and sound will also be explored.
Lesson
General Overview
Topics Covered
 Heat transfer
1
Heat
 Exothermic vs. endothermic
Types of Reactions
2
 Combustion reactions
Combustion
3
4
5
Projectile Motion and Center of
Mass
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Collection and Analysis of Explosives
Newton's second and third laws will be
used to investigate when a system expels
or accelerates mass in one direction.
Concepts of mass, force and acceleration
will be discussed.


Types of waves
Pressure and longitudinal waves
Thrust
Sound Waves
Searching the Fire Scene
Collection and Preservation of Arson
Evidence
Momentum
Unit 6
Identifying Evidence with a Weapons Analysis
Ballistics is a field of forensics that allows a firearms examiner to determine if a
particular bullet or cartridge case was fired from a specific firearm. This determination
can be made thanks to small, often microscopic markings on bullets or cartridge cases
that are unique to ammunition fired from that firearm.
Lesson
General Overview
Topics Covered
 Velocity
1
Ballistic Pendulum
 Conversation of Momentum
 Conversation of Energy
 Heat
 Determining Caliber & Gun Type from
Bullets & Shell Casings
2
Sparking Bullet
 Determining Weapons Firing from
Gunshot Residue
Unit 7
Identifying Evidence with a Blood Spatter
Students will recognize and analyze bloodstain patterns on a variety of surfaces. Data
will be used to support Newton’s second law of motion and describe the mathematical
relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.
Newton’s Law of Gravitation will be used to describe and predict the gravitational forces
between objects.
Lesson
General Overview
Topics Covered
 The Nature of Blood
 Immunoassay Techniques
1
Velocity
 Stain Patterns of Blood
2
3
Momentum
Projectile Motion
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Forensic Characterization of Bloodstains
Newton’s Second Law of Motion
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Kinetic energy
Potential energy
Newton’s Law of Gravitation