Forensic Explosives Investigation Procedures

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Where is the probable origin of a fire most likely to be found?

Near the windows

On the ceiling

At the lowest point showing intense burning (correct)

In the middle of the room

What is indicative of the presence of a flammable liquid at a fire scene?

Excess accelerant in non-porous materials

An ignition device such as a match (correct)

Ash and soot collected in plastic containers

Severe burning found on the ceiling

How should ash and soot from the suspect point of origin of a fire be collected?

Mixing with uncontaminated control specimens

Storing in wide-mouth glass jars (correct)

Leaving in open air

Using plastic containers

What method is recommended for locating traces of flammable liquid residues at a fire scene?

Sniffer dogs or vapor detector Signup and view all the answers

What must accompany the collection of materials suspected of containing volatile liquids at a fire scene?

A substrate control from an unrelated site Signup and view all the answers

What should never be used to store fire scene evidence?

Plastic containers Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes high explosives from low explosives?

Speed of decomposition Signup and view all the answers

Which explosive undergoes deflagration causing walls of the container to fragment and fly outward in all directions?

Smokeless powder Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of black powder?

Potassium or sodium nitrate Signup and view all the answers

Which collection serves as an invaluable reference for identifying accelerants like gasoline?

Ignitable Liquids Reference Hydrocarbon Collection (ILRC) Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes the nature of an explosion?

Sudden buildup of gas pressure Signup and view all the answers

How are complex chromatographic patterns simplified for analysis during bomb site investigations?

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of systematically searching the entire bomb site?

To find any detonating mechanism or foreign items Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to preserve loose soil and debris from a crater at the explosion site?

To examine them microscopically for explosive traces Signup and view all the answers

What screening method is mentioned for detecting explosive residues on collected objects?

Ion mobility spectrometer Signup and view all the answers

Why are materials collected for examination required to be placed in sealed air-tight containers?

To prevent diffusion of explosive residues Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the methods mentioned for analyzing debris collected from explosion scenes?

Color spot tests Signup and view all the answers

Why are articles collected from different areas packaged in separate air-tight containers?

To avoid contamination between different materials Signup and view all the answers