1. What is a comparison microscope? What are the advantages of this microscope?
A comparison microscope is a type of microscopes that is commonly used in a forensic laboratory. This microscope combines two microscopes into one unit, allowing the viewer to see what is under each of the lenses at the same time. This is a huge advantage because it allows you to compare evidence with a known sample because the two samples can be examined side by side.
2. What are the three substances that generally make up paint? Describe each part.
The three substances that generally make up paint are pigments, binders and solvents. Pigments are what produce a particular color of paint, binders are what provide support for the pigment, and the solvent is what makes the paint into a liquid.
3. What are polymers?
Polymers are substances that are made up of many atoms that form in repeating patterns.
4. What is a scanning electron microscope? What are its advantages?
The scanning electron microscope is a microscope that works by shooting beams of electrons at an item and recording the emissions of the electrons. One advantage of this microscope is it has much better magnification than other microscopes; to be exact it can reach rates of magnification up to 10,000 times.
5. What is the PDQ? What is it used for?
PDQ stands for Paint Data Query, and it is the computerized database of automobile paint. The PDQ allows forensic scientists to narrow down the make and model of a particular paint chip
Critical Thinking Questions
1. What are some of the challenges for forensic scientists in dealing with fiber evidence?
A challenge for forensic scientists in dealing with fiber evidence is that they have to narrow down the likely source of the fibers in order for the fiber evidence to become important. It is often impossible to link a fiber found at a crime scene with the specific item that it came from, since there is a mass production of goods today, and since