Vocabulary
What is a bullet?
the projectile that is released when a firearm is discharged
How many years ago did the Chinese invent gunpowder?
100+ years ago
What are long guns referred to as?
rifles and shotguns
When did the D.C. Sniper shootings occur?
October of 2002
Eye witness stories are never 100% accurate, what do investigators do to confirm or deny these stories?
examine bullet wounds
What is a pistol?
a handheld firearm
What is gunpowder made up of?
potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur
Handguns can be classified under two different sub-topics, what are they?
revolvers and semiautomatic
During the D.C. Sniper shootings, how many people were killed?
10 people were killed
True or False, entrance wounds are smaller than exit wounds
true
What is caliber?
a measure on the inside diameter of a firearm barrel
Were flintlock weapons or matchlock weapons invented first?
matchlock weapons
What is the difference between semiautomatic and fully automatic weapons?
semiautomatic weapons shoot one bullet for every time you pull the trigger but fully automatic weapons shoot constantly when the trigger is pressed
How many people called to testify against Sacco and Vanzetti in 1921?
more than 140 witnesses testified
If the muzzle of a firearm is near the skin when a gunshot occurs, what is the mark that is left behind called?
it is gunshot residue
What is gunshot residue?
the tiny particles expelled from a firearm when it is fired
How does a percussion firearm work?
A hammer hits the primer powder, which
explodes, igniting the gunpowder.
Where does the word ''rifle'' originate from?
grooves
How many bullets did Lee Harvey Oswald shoot in the direction of President Kennedy?
three shots were fired
True or False, bullets travel smoothly through the body
false, bones, organs, and tissues bend the path of the bullet
What is lands and grooves?
the ridges and depressions found on the inside of a firearms barrel that are created when the firearm is manufactured
True or False, the first firearm to be invented was in the 14th century
False, the first firearm was invented in the 10th century
Is it possible to produce two identically rifled gun barrels?
No, as a gun is fired, the barrel marks each bullet with its own unique pattern. Therefore, a bullet can be matched to the specific gun from which it was fired.
Did Joseph Gerace intend to shoot and kill David Scaringe?
No, Daniel Reed drove his car erratically toward the officer and Gerace, fearing for his life, fired at Reed. One of the shots accidentally killed David Scaringe as he crossed a nearby street.
Does the caliber size of a bullet determine wether of not it will be able to go through a body?
yes, smaller caliber bullets are smaller and have less weight than a larger caliber bullet