Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
10-2014
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
Criminal Justice
Advisor
Thomas A. Kubic
Subject Categories
Criminology | Criminology and Criminal Justice
Keywords
ballistics, bullets, firearms, ricochet, trace evidence
Abstract
Determining the angle at which a bullet will successfully ricochet is essential information when a shooting investigation involves indirect fire. In this research, determining the critical angle and its variance was measured for six substrates, two calibers and two bullet types. This information provides the forensic scientist with fundamental data required for the scientific reconstruction and assessment of a shooting scene. Depending upon the bullet's design, the substrate, and the angle of impact, a bullet may fail to ricochet upon impact, or the bullet will ricochet. Knowledge of bullet behavior with common substrates provides valuable information for scientific investigation of shooting scenes where bullets (i.e. the projectiles) have impacted intermediate surfaces. A timely and accurate scene reconstruction is imperative in both the investigative and the adjudicative stages of a shooting incident.
Recommended Citation
Diaczuk, Peter, "A Study of Twenty Two Caliber Long Rifle and Nine Millimeter Parabellum Bullet Ricochet from Common Substrates" (2014). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/418