Forensic Science

Vocabulary Unit 3

1. Chemical properties - Describe what happens when a substance reacts with another substance.

2. Class characteristics - Can only be associated with a group and not a single source.

3. Comparison - The process of testing a suspect sample with a known sample to prove whether or not they share a common origin.

4. Concentric fractures - Fractures that form a circle around the point of impact.

5. Demonstrative evidence - Evidence that is used to help recreate or illustrate a crime.

6. Documentary evidence - Any type of written or recorded evidence, such as a recording of a telephone conversation or a video recording of a crime.

7. Identification - The process of determining the chemical or physical characteristics of a piece of evidence with as much certainty as possible.

8. Individual characteristics - Properties associated with a common source to a high degree of certainty.

9. Minutiae - The ridge endings, enclosures, and other details that make up a fingerprint.

10.Physical evidence - Includes tangible objects, including weapons, trace evidence like hair, blood or fibers, and fingerprints.

11.Physical properties - Describe a substance or object without referring to any other substance.

12. Probability - The frequency of an event.

13. Radial fractures - Extend outward from the point of impact, almost like the spokes on a wheel. 14. Ridge characteristics - The ridge

endings, enclosures, and other details that make up a fingerprint.

15. Soil Surface - material from the earth, both natural and artificial.

16. Testimony - The evidence given by witnesses during a trial.