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    Week 8 Microscopy, Paint, Fiber Lecture Notes

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    Week 8 Microscopy, Paint, Fiber Lecture Notes

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    Week 8 Microscopy, Paint, Fiber lecture notes

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    Week 8 Microscopy, Paint, Fiber Lecture Notes

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    PHYS 1026 Microscopy, Paint, Fibers Lecture notes

    Trace Evidence

     Hair, fibers, paint, glass fragments are considered to be trace evidence.


     Circumstantial evidence
     Class evidence
     Not unique enough to individualize or identify
     Trace evidence – can be used an investigative aid
     3 common techniques to collect trace evidence: hunt and peck, taping and vacuum cleaner
    methods
     Most common method of analyzing trace evidence - microscopy

    FORENSIC MICROSCOPY

     Microscope is the combination of two words; "micro" meaning small and "scope meaning view.
     It’s an optical instrument that uses a lens or a combination of lenses to magnify and resolve the
    fine details of an object.
     The magnifying glass was the earliest & simplest microscope (5X to 10X magnification)
     What is the basic concept in microscopy?
     As light passes through a lens, which usually is a round curved object, the light in bent.
     The bending of light through a curved lens is called refraction.
     This bending of light makes the object you are viewing bigger or magnifies it
     Used in many areas of forensic science including: serology, fiber, paint, glass, hair, soil,
    entomology, documents, street drug, fingerprint examinations, firearms
    Compound microscope:
    Utilizes 2 lens - eyepiece or ocular lens and the objective lens
    Forensic uses of compound microscope:
     Looking at glass fragments, paint particles, hair, fibers, vaginal smears

    Comparison microscope.
     It is essentially two compound microscopes joined by a “bridge”.
     Vital for side by side comparison of two pieces of evidence.
     View can show either microscope or can be “split” to show both at the same time

    Primary uses of comparison microscope- firearms, tool marks and hair and fibers.

    Stereo microscope:
     Two compound microscopes aligned and spaced to give a 3 – dimensional image
     Useful when physical evidence does not require high magnification (ie: layers of paint, fabric
    texture, surface marking on glass, staining on items, etc).
     Wide field of view, great depth of focus, largest working distance (useful for large bulky items).
     Commonly used in the analysis of marihuana

    Specialized microscopes:
     The polarized light microscope – uses properties of light to examine certain types of soil and
    fibers.
     The scanning electron microscope uses electrons instead of light to magnify objects.
     Magnification up to 200,000X are possible
     Used in gun shot residue analysis
     Paint fragments

    Paint Evidence

     Distinctiveness of Paint:
     Paint is applied in layers over the surface of an object.
     The number of layers, their colour, appearance and chemical composition all add to the
    distinctiveness of the paint
     Automotive paint is most commonly encountered in forensic work. Manufacturing styles &
    variation contribute to the significance of forensic paint evidence.
     Automotive paint is applied in layers
     Primer, topcoat (colour) and clear coat

     Forensic Significance of Paint:


     A paint transfer may indicate, but in most cases not prove, that two objects were in contact.
     that a vehicle was at a scene
     that a person was in contact with a vehicle
     that a specific tool was used to gain entry to an area

    Fiber Evidence

    • Very common in environment


    • Many fibers are easily shed
    • Fibers can easily be transferred, either singularly or in a series of events
    • Fiber evidence left behind at a crime scene may be used link a suspect to the crime scene.
    • Forensic scientists look at fiber morphology i.e. type, colour, chemical composition, shape, size

     Two major sources of fibers:


     Natural (eg. cotton, wool)
     Synthetic ( eg. polyester, nylon)

     Fibers can be examined under the microscope – compound, stereo , comparison


     Can be examined using different light sources
     Chemical composition –instrumental analyses

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