Ballistics and TNT detection

Anum Ilyas
MS FORENSICS
08-MS-FC-(2k19-2k21)
 Ballistics:

 “to throw”
 the science of moving projectiles from firearms.
 Firearms
 Devices and all deadly weapons
from which a bullet, ball, shot, shell or
other missile may discharge off by
means of gunpowder or other
explosives.
 Forensic Ballistics:

Process of
 the examination of evidence relating to firearms
at a crime scene
 including the effects
 behavior of projectiles
 explosive devices.
Forensic Ballistics Explains:

 type of gun used by criminal

 the gun related to any other crime
 Amount of damage done by the bullet.
 Estimation of position of shooter by analyses
of bullet marks.
Continued:

 Angle of the gun from which bullet was fired

 Estimation of time of fire from gun
 Impression created by that bullet.
 shooter’s identity can be estimated
 Different, cartridge cases, bullets and firearms are
compared
Father of Forensic Ballistics:
 considered to be the
Calvin Hooker Goddard.
 He developed the system
by which bullets can be traced
to weapon that fired them.
Ballistic Expert:
the person who
 specialist who is responsible for collecting and
analyzing ballistics-related evidence,
 which includes firearms and ammunition
(objects that can be shot from a weapon, such as
bullets or bombs).
Basic Theory of Firearms
 The weapon uses chemical energy and then
converts it into kinetic energy in order to expel a
projectile from the firearm.
 1. Bullet
 2. Case
 3. Gunpowder
 4. Rim (grip of Case)
 5. Primer
Basic parts and Working
 Classification of firearms:
On the basis of:
 Reserving (battle, hunting, sports)
 Length of Barrel (long Barrel, Short Barrel)
 Caliber/Diameter
(Small 4-6mm, Medium 7-9mm, Large >9mm)
 Mechanism of shot
(Automatic, Semiautomatic, Not automatic)
Some examples of Firearms:
 Revolver
 Rifle
 Submachine Gun
 Machine Gun
 Shot Gun
 Pistol
Types of Ballistics

 Internal Ballistics
Motion of the projectile
in the bore of the weapon.

 External Ballistics
Motion of the projectile from
muzzle end of the barrel to the target.
Cont.

 Terminal Ballistics
It deals with the effect of projectile on the
target.
Examination of Firearm:
 Class Characteristics:
 Lands And Grooves
 The quality Of The Bullet
 The Rifling Twist
Lands, Grooves and Twists
Examination of Firearm
 Individual Characters:
These random irregularities or imperfections can be
produced by:
 Manufacture
 Wear from Abuse
 Wear from Use
 The striations on the bullet
Comparison Microscope
 Most important tool for gun examination
 Two bullets can be identified and compared at
the same time within the same tool of
examination
 EXPLOSIVES

TRINITROTOULENE
Explosives:
 An explosive substance is a solid or liquid
substance (or mixture of substances)
 which is in itself capable by chemical reaction of
producing gas at such a temperature and
pressure and at such a speed as to
 cause damage to the surroundings.
Trinitrotoulene
 More precisely
2,4,6 –trinitrotoulene
 Best known explosive
 With suitable loading
properties
 Ignition characters:
 Upon exploding, TNT dissociate into:
2 C7H5N3O6 → 3 N2 + 5 H2O + 7 CO + 7 C
2 C7H5N3O6 → 3 N2 + 5 H2 + 12 CO + 2 C
 EXOTHERMIC: Release 4.184 MJ/kg
 Due to production of carbon, TNT explosions have a
sooty appearance.

 During the 20th century, Amatol, a mixture of TNT

with ammonium nitrate was a widely used military
explosive.
Detection in Forensics:
PHYSICAL EVIDENCES:
 These evidences include debris, soil, water, skin
and also cloth or fabric.

 Methods to detect TNT, including

 optical
 electrochemical sensors
 explosive-sniffing dogs
Chemical Detection
 TLC and HPLC is used for identification of
explosives because it is best for the analysis of
high molecular weight, low volatility and
thermally unstable compounds.
 The most common detector for HPLC is
ultraviolet detector (UV).
Unique Characters:
 Application of TNT
 TNT is one of the most commonly used explosives for
military, industrial, and mining applications
 TNT neither absorbs nor dissolves in water, which
allows it to be used effectively in wet environments.
 TNT is valued partly because of its insensitivity to
shock and friction, with reduced risk of accidental
detonation
 To detonate, TNT must be triggered by a pressure
wave from a starter explosive, called an explosive
booster.
Jazak Allah Khairan