Experiment #14

Glass and Glass Fracture Examination

I. Objective
1. Study the different kinds of glass and glass fractures.
2. Understand the proper techniques used in the examination of glass fragments
and glass fractures.
3. Appreciate its application in criminal investigation.

II. Apparatus/Materials
Graduated cylinder, weighing scale, beaker, glass surface, glass fragments, glue, and
illustration board tool.

III. Procedure
1. Examination of Glass Fragments
1.1. Density Measurement
1.1.1. Get the volume of the glass fragment by using the water displacement
method.
1.1.1.1. Fill the graduated cylinder with water to one of the graduations of the
cylinder.
1.1.1.2. Read the initial volume of water used by observing the lower meniscus
of the water level.
1.1.1.3. Record the initial volume of water.
1.1.1.4. Immerse a glass fragment in the graduated cylinder with water.
1.1.1.5. As soon as the water level is raised, read the final volume by
observing the new meniscus level and record it.
1.1.1.6. Subtract the initial volume of water from the final volume of water in
the glass fragment.
1.1.1.7. Record again the volume of the glass fragment in milliliter.

1.1.2. Weigh the glass fragment using a weighing scale and record its weight in
grams.
 1.1.3. Determine the density of the glass fragment by dividing the mass of the
glass fragment by its volume in cubic centimeter.

1.2. Measurement of Refractive Index

1.2.1. Immerse a glass fragment from a broken headlight in a beaker containing:
1.2.1.1. Toluene (RI=1.4969)
1.2.1.2. Castor oil (RI=1.4820)
1.2.1.3. Xylene (RI=1.50055)
1.2.1.4 Pyridine (RI=1.5102) (RI=1.5102)

1.2.2. Determine if the glass fragment is visible or not in each of the organic
liquids.
1.2.3. Follow the same procedure for glass fragments from broken window and
broken bottle.
1.2.4. Record and illustrate your observations.

2. Examination of Glass Fractures Caused by a Tool

2.1. Get a rectangular glass surface and mount it on a hard illustration board using
glue.
2.2. Hit the glass surface with a hammer.
2.3. Study the kinds of fractures that are produced by the application of force.
2.4. Determine the point of entry, exit, and the direction of impact.
2.5. Record and illustrate your observations.

3. Examination of Glass Fractures Caused by a Fired Bullet

3.1. Get a rectangular glass surface and mount it on a hard illustration board using
glue
3.2. Shoot the glass surface twice with either an automatic pistol or a revolver.
3.3. Study the kinds of fractures that are produced.
3.4. Determine the point of entry, exit, direction of impact, and which shot is made
first
3.5. Record and illustrate your observations.
IV. Observation
1. Examination of Glass Fragments
1.1. What is the importance of measuring the density of glass?

1.2. How is the density of a glass fragment determined?

 1.3. What is the importance of determining the refractive index of the glass fragment in
forensic investigation?
1.4. How is the refractive index of a glass fragment obtained?

1.5. Enumerate the different forensic examinations that are conducted on glass
fragments.

2. Examination of Glass Fractures

2.1. What are the different kinds of glass fractures that are produced after hitting the
glass surface with:
2.1.1. Hammer

2.1.2. Fired bullet

2.2. Differentiate each fracture.

2.3. Which has more prominent glass fractures, the surface hit by a hammer or the
surface hit by a fired bullet? Why?

2.4. Describe a point of impact.

2.5. What are the differences between an entrance and exit holes?
 2.6. What happens if a shot is fired perpendicular to the glass surface?

2.7. What results if the shot is fired at an angle from the right?

2.8. How is the first shot determined from a series of shot?

2.9. What are the different determinations that can be made from glass fractures?

2.10. What is the fracture due to heat, exhibit?

V. Post Laboratory Discussion

Guide Questions
1. What is a glass? How is it produced?

2. Differentiate a Pyrex glass to a safety glass, where do you usually find them?

3. What are some of the metals that contribute to the color of the glass?
4. What is the significance of a glass as a physical evidence?

5. What are the identifying characteristics of a glass which are considered valuable in
forensic investigation?

6. What is the difference between a glass fragment and a glass fracture?

7. What do you understand by jigsaw fitting of glass fragments?

8. What is refractive index?

9. What is a tempered glass?

10. How can a distinction be made between tempered and non-tempered glass particles?

11. What is Spectrographic Analysis? When is it conducted on glass fragments?

12. When does a glass surface break?

13. What happens when a force is applied on a glass surface?

14. What happens on the opposite side of the glass surface where the force was applied?

15. What scientific information is obtained if a large fragment of glass can be perfectly
fitted into an original broken headlight?

16. What is a bullet trajectory?

17. How do you collect and preserve glass fragments?

VI. Conclusion

VII. Illustration

VIII. Documentation