Forensic Ballistics Q and A
1. What is the primary purpose of the Bullet Comparison Microscope?
a. Measure bullet speed
b. Compare fired bullets or shells
c. Mark bullets for evidence
d. Examine gun barrels
Answer: b
2. Who is considered the father of modern ballistics?
a. Francis Wenham
b. William Livens
c. Dr. Calvin H. Goddard
d. Alfred Lee Loomis
Answer: c
3. What is the function of a Stereoscopic Microscope?
a. Measure bullet weight
b. Perform side-by-side bullet comparisons
c. Examine tampered serial numbers
d. Recover test-fired bullets
Answer: c
4. Which instrument projects the image of two fired bullets onto a large screen?
a. Shadowgraph
b. CP-6 Comparison Projector
c. Filar Micrometer Eyepiece
d. Helixometer
Answer: b
5. What material is commonly used in a Bullet Recovery Box?
a. Cotton
b. Glass
c. Steel
d. Oil
Answer: a
6. What is a primary use of the Micrometer/Caliper?
a. Compare class characteristics
b. Measure bullet and bore diameters
c. Determine bullet velocity
d. Recover bullet fragments
Answer: b
7. The Analytical or Torsion Balance helps determine the __________ of bullets.
a. Diameter
b. Weight
c. Speed
d. Structure
Answer: b
8. Which microscope can identify gunpowder residues at an elemental level?
a. Bullet Comparison Microscope
b. Stereoscopic Microscope
c. Scanning Electron Microscope
d. Shadowgraph
Answer: c
9. Who designed the first successful stereomicroscope?
a. John Fisher
b. Francis Wenham
c. William Livens
d. Alfred Loomis
Answer: b
10. What does a Chronograph measure?
a. Bullet speed
b. Bullet diameter
c. Gunpowder residue
d. Shell weight
Answer: a
11. Which instrument can separate a bullet from its cartridge case?
a. Bullet Puller
b. Electric Gun Marker
c. Taper Gauge
d. Helixometer
Answer: a
12. The CP-6 Comparison Projector was invented by:
a. William Livens
b. Dr. Calvin H. Goddard
c. Francis Wenham
d. John Fisher
Answer: a
13. What does the Helixometer measure?
a. Pitch of rifling
b. Bullet weight
c. Gun barrel length
d. Class characteristics
Answer: a
14. What part of the computerized comparison microscope adjusts magnification size?
a. Condenser
b. Focusing Knob
c. Magnification Knob
d. Centering Knob
Answer: c
15. What invention is used to mark bullets and shells in a laboratory?
a. CP-6 Projector
b. Electric Gun Marker
c. Taper Gauge
d. Bullet Puller
Answer: b
16. What is the main use of a Shadowgraph in ballistics?
a. Recover test-fired bullets
b. Compare class characteristics of bullets
c. Measure bullet speed
d. Examine serial numbers
Answer: b
17. What does the Filar Micrometer Eyepiece measure?
a. Gun barrel diameter
b. Angle of twist in riflings
c. Width of land and groove marks
d. Bullet weight
Answer: c
18. What is the function of the Taper Gauge?
a. Determine bullet weight
b. Measure bore diameter
c. Measure rifling pitch
d. Examine gunpowder residue
Answer: b
19. The Onoscope is used to examine:
a. Bullet trajectory
b. The internal surface of a gun barrel
c. Gunpowder residue
d. Bullet comparison images
Answer: b
20. Who invented the Helixometer?
a. Alfred Loomis
b. William Livens
c. John H. Fisher
d. Francis Wenham
Answer: c
21. Which part of the computerized comparison microscope carries the lens and camera systems?
a. Body
b. Stage
c. Monitor
d. Condenser
Answer: a
22. What is the primary purpose of the condenser in a microscope?
a. Adjust magnification
b. Concentrate light on the specimen
c. Move the stage
d. Transfer the image to the computer
Answer: b
23. The Bullet Comparison Microscope was introduced in:
a. 1920
b. 1925
c. 1930
d. 1918
Answer: b
24. The primary function of a Chronograph in ballistics is to:
a. Measure bullet speed
b. Examine class characteristics
c. Identify gunpowder residues
d. Determine bullet weight
Answer: a
25. The Stereoscopic Microscope is typically used for:
a. Close-up bullet recovery
b. Determining class characteristics
c. Measuring barrel length
d. Comparing bullet speeds
Answer: b
26. What material is NOT commonly used in a Bullet Recovery Box?
a. Cotton
b. Sand
c. Steel
d. Water
Answer: c
27. Which instrument uses a large circular ground glass for comparison?
a. Bullet Comparison Microscope
b. Shadowgraph
c. Stereoscopic Microscope
d. CP-6 Comparison Projector
Answer: b
28. Which device helps regulate power supply in a computerized microscope?
a. Condenser
b. Automatic Voltage Regulator
c. Focusing Knob
d. Central Processing Unit
Answer: b
29. What year was the Chronograph invented?
a. 1910
b. 1918
c. 1925
d. 1935
Answer: b
30. The primary function of a Micrometer is to:
a. Compare bullet images
b. Measure precise dimensions
c. Examine serial numbers
d. Identify gunpowder residue
Answer: b
31. What does the Centering Knob do in a microscope?
a. Adjusts light intensity
b. Moves the stage for specimen alignment
c. Changes magnification
d. Focuses the image
Answer: b
32. Which part of the microscope displays the magnified image?
a. Stage
b. Monitor
c. Condenser
d. Body
Answer: b
33. The Bullet Puller’s main function is to:
a. Compare fired bullets
b. Measure bore diameter
c. Separate the bullet from the cartridge
d. Mark bullets for identification
Answer: c
34. What is a key feature of the Scanning Electron Microscope?
a. Measures bullet speed
b. Identifies elemental components of particles
c. Projects images on a large screen
d. Measures pitch of rifling
Answer: b
35. Who introduced the first modern stereomicroscope in the U.S.?
a. Alfred Loomis
b. Cycloptic
c. William Livens
d. John Fisher
Answer: b
36. What part of a computerized comparison microscope is used for data input?
a. Mouse
b. Condenser
c. Focusing Knob
d. Magnification Knob
Answer: a
37. What is the purpose of the Focusing Knob?
a. Adjust the size of the magnified image
b. Make focal adjustments
c. Move the stage horizontally
d. Regulate power supply
Answer: b
38. What does the Analytical Balance determine in ballistics?
a. Speed of bullets
b. Weight of bullets
c. Diameter of shells
d. Pitch of rifling
Answer: b
39. Which part of the computerized microscope is referred to as the "brain"?
a. Monitor
b. CPU (Central Processing Unit)
c. Camera
d. Body
Answer: b
40. The Helixometer allows measurement of:
a. Bullet diameter
b. Angle of twist in rifled barrels
c. Gunpowder residue
d. Test-fired bullets
Answer: b
1. What is the primary feature of INTERMARRIAGE comparison in a Bullet Comparison Microscope?
a. Side-by-side comparison
b. Merging images to look for identical markings
c. Measuring bullet speed
d. Examining serial numbers
Answer: b
2. Who used the first Bullet Comparison Microscope?
a. William Howard Livens
b. Alfred Lee Loomis
c. Dr. Calvin H. Goddard
d. Francis Herbert Wenham
Answer: c
3. The photomicrograph from a Bullet Comparison Microscope is used for:
a. Evidence in court
b. Measuring bullet diameter
c. Separating cartridges
d. Identifying powder residues
Answer: a
4. What type of microscope was first designed by Francis Herbert Wenham?
a. Bullet Comparison Microscope
b. Scanning Electron Microscope
c. Stereoscopic Microscope
d. Shadowgraph
Answer: c
5. The CP-6 Comparison Projector provides a comfortable viewing experience because:
a. It uses a large circular glass
b. It projects images vertically
c. It uses a computerized system
d. It combines images on a monitor
Answer: b
6. Which instrument is designed to recover undamaged test-fired bullets?
a. CP-6 Projector
b. Bullet Recovery Box
c. Chronograph
d. Shadowgraph
Answer: b
7. What fills the Bullet Recovery Box for bullet retrieval?
a. Water and sand
b. Cotton or rubber strips
c. Metal sheets
d. Glass plates
Answer: b
8. What role does a Scanning Electron Microscope play in firearms investigation?
a. Compares bullet images
b. Measures bullet speed
c. Identifies residues at an elemental level
d. Separates bullets from cartridges
Answer: c
9. Who is credited with inventing the CP-6 Comparison Projector?
a. William Howard Livens
b. Dr. Calvin Goddard
c. Francis Wenham
d. John H. Fisher
Answer: a
10. What feature of the Stereoscopic Microscope assists in examining serial numbers?
a. High magnification
b. Orientation capabilities
c. Elemental residue detection
d. Pitch measurement
Answer: b
11. The Taper Gauge is specifically used to measure:
a. Gunpowder residue
b. Serial number tampering
c. Bore diameter
d. Bullet speed
Answer: c
12. What is the main advantage of using a Computerized Comparison Microscope over a manual one?
a. Higher magnification
b. Easier image viewing on a monitor
c. Automatic weight measurement
d. Faster bullet retrieval
Answer: b
13. The Bullet Puller’s function is critical for:
a. Analyzing gunpowder
b. Separating cartridges
c. Measuring rifling pitch
d. Comparing bullet images
Answer: b
14. Which part of the computerized microscope moves the specimen stage?
a. Condenser
b. Centering Knob
c. Magnification Knob
d. Focusing Knob
Answer: b
15. What year was the first Bullet Comparison Microscope introduced?
a. 1918
b. 1920
c. 1925
d. 1930
Answer: c
16. The Helixometer primarily measures:
a. Bullet speed
b. Rifling pitch angle
c. Gunpowder residue
d. Serial number depth
Answer: b
17. The Chronograph was invented by:
a. John H. Fisher
b. Dr. Calvin H. Goddard
c. Alfred Lee Loomis
d. Francis Herbert Wenham
Answer: c
18. What does the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computerized microscope do?
a. Adjust magnification
b. Process data and run programs
c. Provide light to the specimen
d. Move the stage
Answer: b
19. Which component focuses the image in a microscope?
a. Monitor
b. Magnification Knob
c. Condenser
d. Focusing Knob
Answer: d
20. What feature makes a Shadowgraph similar to the Bullet Comparison Microscope?
a. High-resolution monitor
b. Comparison of class characteristics
c. Court evidence production
d. Residue analysis
Answer: b
21. The term JUXTAPOSITION refers to:
a. Merging images into one
b. Adjusting magnification
c. Side-by-side comparison of bullets
d. Weight analysis
Answer: c
22. The Analytical Balance helps determine bullet:
a. Speed
b. Weight
c. Diameter
d. Surface markings
Answer: b
23. What does the camera in a computerized comparison microscope do?
a. Records residue data
b. Transfers microscope images to a monitor
c. Measures bullet speed
d. Examines serial numbers
Answer: b
24. The primary component for light concentration in a microscope is the:
a. Stage
b. Condenser
c. Monitor
d. Body
Answer: b
25. The Electric Gun Marker is used for:
a. Measuring rifling pitch
b. Marking bullets and shells
c. Bullet speed analysis
d. Comparing ballistic images
Answer: b
26. Which instrument was introduced by Cycloptic in the U.S.?
a. Stereoscopic Microscope
b. Shadowgraph
c. Helixometer
d. Chronograph
Answer: a
27. The key advantage of a Bullet Comparison Microscope is:
a. Comparing bullets simultaneously
b. Measuring bullet weight
c. Recording internal barrel details
d. Analyzing powder residues
Answer: a
28. The Filar Micrometer Eyepiece measures:
a. Bullet speed
b. Width of land and groove marks
c. Serial numbers
d. Gunpowder residues
Answer: b
29. The purpose of the Magnification Knob is to:
a. Move the stage
b. Adjust image size
c. Focus the image
d. Measure bullet speed
Answer: b
30. Which material is NOT used in Bullet Recovery Boxes?
a. Sawdust
b. Sand
c. Glass
d. Water
Answer: c
31. The Helixometer measures circular angles to:
a. Three minutes of arc
b. Five minutes of arc
c. Ten minutes of arc
d. One degree
Answer: a
32. The Onoscope examines:
a. Bullet residues
b. Gun barrels internally
c. Class characteristics
d. Shell markings
Answer: b
33. The primary purpose of the Stage in a microscope is to:
a. Concentrate light
b. Hold the specimen
c. Move the camera
d. Adjust magnification
Answer: b
34. The Automatic Voltage Regulator in a microscope regulates:
a. Image quality
b. Power supply
c. Magnification
d. Stage movement
Answer: b
35. Which instrument identifies elemental composition from gunpowder residues?
a. Helixometer
b. Scanning Electron Microscope
c. Taper Gauge
d. Bullet Puller
Answer: b
36. The purpose of a micrometer in ballistics is to:
a. Focus images
b. Measure fine dimensions
c. Adjust light levels
d. Mark bullets
Answer: b
37. A Chronograph is essential for:
a. Comparing bullets
b. Measuring bullet speed
c. Identifying powder residues
d. Examining gun barrels
Answer: b
38. Which instrument involves a tiny lamp for bore inspection?
a. Onoscope
b. Shadowgraph
c. Helixometer
d. Taper Gauge
Answer: a
39. The Camera in a computerized system transfers:
a. Data to the CPU
b. Images to the monitor
c. Light to the stage
d. Measurements to the condenser
Answer: b
40. The CP-6 Comparison Projector’s main advantage is:
a. Portable design
b. Large screen projection
c. Elemental residue analysis
d. Serial number recovery
Answer: b
