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    Forensic Physics Reviewer (Glass)

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    Nicole Morales
    Forensic examination of glass evidence aims to determine the types of glass present, how the glass was fractured, classify the physical characteristics, and individualize the glass to a source. Glass breaks in characteristic patterns depending on the direction and amount of force applied. Physical properties like density, refractive index, surface markings, and elemental composition through techniques like SEM-EDX can be used to classify and potentially match glass fragments to a specific source.

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    Forensic Physics Reviewer (Glass)

    Uploaded by

    Nicole Morales
    71 views2 pages
    Forensic examination of glass evidence aims to determine the types of glass present, how the glass was fractured, classify the physical characteristics, and individualize the glass to a source. Glass breaks in characteristic patterns depending on the direction and amount of force applied. Physical properties like density, refractive index, surface markings, and elemental composition through techniques like SEM-EDX can be used to classify and potentially match glass fragments to a specific source.

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    Forensic examination of glass evidence aims to determine the types of glass present, how the glass was fractured, classify the physical characteristics, and individualize the glass to a source. Glass breaks in characteristic patterns depending on the direction and amount of force applied. Physical properties like density, refractive index, surface markings, and elemental composition through techniques like SEM-EDX can be used to classify and potentially match glass fragments to a specific source.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    71 views2 pages

    Forensic Physics Reviewer (Glass)

    Uploaded by

    Nicole Morales
    Forensic examination of glass evidence aims to determine the types of glass present, how the glass was fractured, classify the physical characteristics, and individualize the glass to a source. Glass breaks in characteristic patterns depending on the direction and amount of force applied. Physical properties like density, refractive index, surface markings, and elemental composition through techniques like SEM-EDX can be used to classify and potentially match glass fragments to a specific source.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    FORENSIC PHYSICS REVIEWER

    Forensic Examination of Glass

    Goals in examining glass evidence:


    • Determine the types of glass at the scene
    • Determine how the glass was fractured
    • Use physical characteristics to classify it
    • Individualize the glass to a source
    • Radial cracks form first and are propagated in
    Glass – fusion of sand (𝑆𝑖𝑂2 ), soda (𝑁𝑎2 ) & lime short segments on the side opposite the force.
    (CaO) that produces a transparent solid when cooled. • Concentric cracks come later from continued
    - Physical properties: hard, elastic, brittle, non- pressure on the same side as the force applied.
    conductor of electricity, density, refractive
    index, etc. Collection of Glass Samples
    • The glass fragments should be packaged in
    Types of Glass
    boxes to avoid further breakage.
    1. Borosilicate Glass (pyrex) – 5% borax
    • If evidence is to be examined for glass
    (𝑁𝑎2 𝐵4 𝑂7 ) is added to resist breaking when
    fragments, it should be taken whole, and each
    heated or cooled.
    item individually wrapped in paper and
    boxed.
    • If even the remotest possibility exists that
    glass fragments may be pieced together,
    every effort must be made to collect all glass
    2. Colored Glass – metal oxides or colloidal
    fragments.
    iron (Fe) & sulfur (S) are added to change its
    • Submit glass evidence along with a
    color.
    representative sample of each type of glass
    3. Lead glass – Pb increases refractive index &
    from the crime scene.
    density.
    Nonoptical Physical Properties of Glass
    How Do Glass Windows Break?
    1. Surface striations and markings
    • Each force causes a deformation that may
    Markings may indicate the glass's
    leave a visible mark or fracture the glass. This
    orientation when pieces are missing.
    can be used to determine the direction and
    Surface scratches, etchings, and other
    amount of force.
    markings may also be used to
    • Glass acts initially as an elastic surface and individualize evidence.
    bends away when a force is applied. When
    the force increases beyond its tensile
    strength, it cracks.

    2. Other Properties
    Hardness=5-6 on Mohs scale; use a scratch
    test.
    How does glass break? Glass Density
    • Density can be measured by:
    directly determining mass and volume
    (usually by displacement).
    comparison by flotation.
    comparison using a density gradient column.
    Translation - the glass disappears.

    Becke Lines

    • Density gradient column method:


    Fragments of different densities settle at
    different levels in the column of liquid of
    varying density.

    Chemical Analysis of Glass


    • Fluorescence
    - Under UV radiation, many glasses exhibit
    fluorescence (glow)
    - Caused by heavy metals (including tin) from
    Density by the Flotation Method or organic coatings.

    • A glass particle is immersed in a liquid. The • Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive
    density of the liquid is adjusted by the addition of X-ray (SEM-EDX) Analysis
    small amounts of another liquid until the glass - Can determine many elements
    chip remains suspended simultaneously
    • At this point, the glass will have the same density - Surfaces of samples (>50 mg) can be
    as the liquid medium and can be compared to analyzed
    other relevant pieces of glass which will remain • Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
    suspended, sink, or float. - You must first know which elements are
    present (weakness)
    Why Measure Refractive Index? - Can analyze ppm levels of elements present
    • Refractive index – ratio of the velocity of light in
    a vacuum to the velocity of light in any other
    medium.
    • Nothing travels faster than the speed of light in a
    vacuum (roughly 3.0 x 10^8 m / s or 6.7 x 10^8
    mph).
    • For example, at 25°C the refractive index of water
    is 1.333. This means that light travels 1.333 times
    faster in a vacuum than it does in water.
    • Refractive index of glass varies with small
    changes in composition or by how it is
    manufactured.

    Refractive Index by Immersion


    • Immersing a glass particle in a liquid medium
    (silicone oil) whose refractive index can vary with
    temperature until it is equal to that of the glass
    particle.
    • At this point, known as the match point, the Becke
    line disappears and minimum contrast between
    liquid and particle is observed: Rl oil = Rl glass

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