Ballistics and Criminalistics

• Ballistics is a branch of engineering focused on projectile behavior.
• Projectiles are objects propelled by throwing, launching, or other means.
• Motion describes the movement of projectiles launched from firearms.
  • Direct motion involves the forward movement of a projectile within the gun barrel.
  • Rotary motion refers to the gyrating action of a projectile in a rifled bore.
  • Translational motion describes the movement of a projectile in a straight line in a smooth bore.
• Criminalistics is a criminology subfield that studies criminal evidence.
• Criminal things include items left behind by a criminal at a crime scene.

Divisions of Criminalistics

• The scientific division includes:
  • Chemistry for studying composition, structure, and properties of substances.
  • Psychiatry studies the mental health and behavioral aspects of individuals.
  • Biology deals with different forms of life.
• The technological division includes:
  • Forensic Dactyloscopy which is the science of fingerprinting.
  • Forensic Photography which documents crime scenes visually.
  • Forensic Ballistics
  • Questioned Document Examination pertains to disputed documents.
  • Forensic Medicine examines and diagnoses individuals injured or deceased due to external unnatural causes.
  • Polygraphy measures psychophysiological responses.
  • Forensic Serology analyzes body fluids.
• Forensic ballistics applies scientific methods to identify firearms using ammunition and cartridges.
• Forensic applies scientific principles in legal processes, highlighted by specialized knowledge.
  • Forensis is a Latin term meaning "in open court".
  • Forum is an English term for "marketplace".
• Ballistics originates from the Greek words "ballo" or "ballien," meaning to throw.
  • These root words stem from the term Ballista, denoting a gigantic bow or catapult.
  • Ballistae refers to a crossbow used for launching spears.
• Internal/Interior Ballistics studies projectile motion from firing pin impact to the projectile reaching the gun's muzzle.
• Transitional/Intermediate Ballistics examines projectile motion from when it exits the gun muzzle until pressure stabilizes.
• External/Exterior Ballistics studies projectile motion from exiting the firearm until it hits the target.
• Terminal Ballistics studies the effects of bullets on targets and the countereffects.

Shot and Wound Ballistics

• Shot Ballistics studies the properties of shots and pellets.
• Wound Ballistics studies the effects and damages caused by bullets in the human body.

Firearm Terminology

• Final Walk Through is used by investigators to identify relevant evidence.
• Anthropometry is body measurement.
• Anthropology is bone measurement.
• Polygraphy records psychophysiological responses.
• A stroboscope captures bullets in flight.
• Trajectory is the curved path of a bullet in flight.

Firing Mechanism

• The firing mechanism initiates with the trigger and sear releasing.
• The sear connecting the trigger and hammer.
• The hammer strikes the firing pin.
• The firing pin hits the primer.
• The combustion of gunpowder produced by the primer initiates the expansive force of gases.
• The gases then create pressure to propel the projectile.

Ammunition Composition

• Ammunition includes:
  • Bullet
  • Primer
  • Cartridge Case
  • Gunpowder
• Ammunition is a complete unfired assembly of loaded shells.
• Ballistic evidence often includes real objects like firearms, bullets, or shells.
• Ballistic events involve the discharge of a firearm.
  • Includes bullet holes, damage, trajectories, and gunshot wounds.

Divisions of Forensic Ballistics

• Field Investigation involves the collection, marking, presentation, packing, and transmission of firearms evidence.
• Technical Examination determines if a firearm was fired from the same firearm.
• Test firing uses test bullets or standard bullets.
  • Outcome results may be identical (match), non-identical (no match), or nonconclusive (lack of composition).
• Firearm identification and tool mark analysis help match bullets or cartridges to a firearm.
• Bullet Identification confirms if two bullets were fired from the same firearm.
• Cartridge Case Identification confirms if two shells were fired from the same firearm.
• Firearm Identification determines firearm characteristics.

Additional Firearm Terminology

• Caliber - refers to the diameter of the bore between the lands.
• Muskets - muzzle-loading firearms.
• Carbines - bolt-operated firearms (M1 Carbine).
• Missiles - propel rockets.

Firearm Definition

• General Definition - firearms propel projectiles by the expansive force of gases through gunpowder.
• Legal Definition
  • Includes muskets, rifles, carbines, pistols, revolvers and shotguns with a range over 30m.
  • Air rifles with a range less than 30m are considered toys.
• Republic Act No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act):
  • Barre, frame, and receiver components.
  • Any handheld weapon designed to expel a projectile using burning gunpowder.
• Air rifles use compressed air.

Propellant Evolution

• Propellant is the explosive charge that projects a bullet from a gun.
• Black powder was first developed by a Chinese Alchemist.
  • Consisting of:
    • Saltpeter (Potassium Nitrate) - 74.64%, produces oxygen for combustion
    • Sulfur - 11.85%, a fuel component that initiates gas production.
    • Charcoal - 13.51%, is used a supplementary fuel.
• Smokeless Powder is composed of nitrocellulose.
  • Single Based - Pure nitrocellulose
  • Double Based – Nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin
  • Triple Based - Nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin and nitroguanidine
• RDX (Royal Demolition Explosive) - cyclonites are also smokeless powders

Trajectory Development

• Tartaglia (Niccolo Fontana) specialized in artillery trajectory.
  • Different elevation of artillery weapons.
  • A projectile's path is not completely straight.
  • A gunner's quadrant measures the muzzle’s elevation.
• Galileo Galilei concluded that projectile velocity reduction is influenced by shape, density, and weight.
• Sir Isaac Newton introduced the law of gravity to explain projectiles' curvilinear motion.
• Jean Dominique Cassini suggested methods for computing muzzle velocity.
• Benjamins Robins developed ballistic pendulum to measure muzzle velocity and is know as the Father of Modern Gunnery.
• Benjamin Thompson modified the Gun Pendulum.
• Sir Charles Wheatstone used the chronograph to accurately measure by electrical means.
• Alexandre John Forsythe is The Father of Percussion Ignition who introduced detonating chemicals to ignite gunpowder.
• Johann Dreyse invented the breech-loading infantry needle gun.
• Major Cavalli of Sardinia invented the serviceable breech-loading artillery rifle.
• General Thomas Jackson Rodman innovated grain form of powder.
• Pauel Vielle developed Poudre B, a smokeless gunpowder.
• Alfred Nobel invented cordite.