8127/frame/fm

 
The Origin of Evidence — 
Divisible Matter 
 
and Transfer
A.
In the Beginning ..................................................................................... 84
B.
The Nature of Matter ............................................................................. 86
C.
Divisible Matter — A New Fundamental Principle in Forensic 
Science ..................................................................................................... 87
1.
Properties Useful for Source Determination................................. 88
2.
Properties Confounding Source Determination ........................... 89
3.
More on the Nature of Matter: Thermodynamics and 
Entropy............................................................................................. 91
4.
An Example of Divisibility ............................................................. 92
5.
Impression Evidence — Does Divisible Matter Apply?................ 93
D.
Transfer Theory (Locard)....................................................................... 93
1.
Physical Transfer.............................................................................. 94
a.
Trace Evidence — Transfer of Very Small Physical 
Entities ...................................................................................... 95
b.
Macroscopic Evidence — Transfer of Larger Physical 
Entities ...................................................................................... 95
c.
Factors Affecting Transfer and Detection............................... 95
4
 
Figure 4.1
 
The continents.
When matter divides, some characteristics retained
by the smaller pieces are unique to the division process. These traits are created
at the boundary of the fracture. Boundary roughness is a natural consequence of
breaking one surface into two, and these new surfaces are closely, but not com-
pletely, complementary. At the moment of division the separated fragments
commence to change and become different both from each other and from the
original object. At some point, it might become impossible to associate the two
fragments by physical matching of their complementary edges. Do Africa and
South America share a common origin? The figure allows you to make your own
judgment.
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84
Principles and Practice of Criminalistics
2.
Spatial Trait Transfer ....................................................................... 96
a.
Impression Evidence ................................................................ 96
b.
Three- to Two- to One-Dimensional Transformations......... 96
E.
Summary ................................................................................................. 98
References ........................................................................................................ 99
Every contact leaves a trace