#33 BANG BANG: Introduction to Forensic Ballistics I

Aiza Jamil
Sep 27
4 min read

Updated: Oct 4

Hello, and welcome back, folks, to another episode of STEM on the Streets! If you are new here, my name is Aiza, and this is my partner CAI (crime Ai), together, we stroll through the criminal-ridden streets of STEM!

If you haven't read the previous episode, click on the button to read it!

Click Me

Ughhhh

(✿◡‿◡)CAI: What is it now?

I hate studying physics; it makes me wanna cry.

(✿◡‿◡)CAI: Well, it is rather important.

I think it is rather useless than important, like in no situation do I find myself calculating the speed of a parachuting chicken.

(✿◡‿◡)CAI: Nobody ever asked you to calculate that. But what do you think about a bullet?

It is very bold of you to assume that I would even be thinking about physics while there is a bullet flying past me. So, no, I still don’t see myself using it in the future.

(✿◡‿◡)CAI: And what about forensic ballistics?

Yeah, but it isn’t the victim standing there calculating the velocity of the bulle-

(✿◡‿◡)CAI: Aiza, that isn’t the point.

Oh, sorry, my bad.

What is Forensic Ballistics?

Forensic ballistics is one of the many interesting fields in forensics. Within this field, firearms, ammunition, and the effects of bullets are examined to aid in solving crimes. Once again, any field with forensics in it automatically means that field is being used in crime solving. So, in normal ballistics, it studies projectiles in motion, but in forensic ballistics, it focuses on the criminal investigation aspects. Forensic ballistics helps link bullets and cartridge cases found at crime scenes to specific firearms, which provides crucial evidence in criminal cases.

There are four branches:

Internal Ballistics
External Ballistics
Transitional Ballistics
Terminal Ballistics

CAI wanna take it from here?

(✿◡‿◡)CAI: Sure, why not?

Internal Ballistics could be considered the launch process in which all that happens within the gun when it is fired is studied. This branch studies the bullet, propellant (gunpowder), and the firing mechanism. As well as that, it looks at how the propellant ignites and pushes the bullet down the barrel. Investigators examine things like how fast the bullet leaves the barrel, how the size and shape of gun powder affects the firing, and the time of firing, alongside other internal processes.

External ballistics is the study of the bullet’s path from the gun to the target. So once the bullet has left the barrel, it enters external ballistics, basically its flight through the air. In this branch, investigators study what affects the bullet while it is travelling to the target, so some factors include air resistance, which can slow it down, yaw (the bullet wobbling), trajectory (the curved path due to gravity), and velocity (how fast it is going).

Transitional ballistics is the bridge between internal and external ballistics; it focuses on the bullet leaving the barrel. Think of it as an in-between phase, right as the bullet leaves the barrel but right before it is fully in free flight. It is the moment the bullet is affected by escaping gases and bullet pressure. Investigators study how the bullet stabilizes after leaving the gun.

Terminal ballistics is the study of the bullet’s effects on the target or victim. This could also be considered as the impact stage, so when the bullet hits something. This branch looks at the way the bullet interacts with the object it hits, shape of the bullet (pointed, hollow, etc.), velocity when it strikes, angle of impact and ricochets, stopping power *the amount of damage it can do, are all studied in the thai branch. Wounds caused by these bullets are also studied.

What Does Forensic Ballistics Involve?

Forensic ballistics experts analyze various aspects of firearms and ammunition to gather evidence. Investigators can match bullets to firearms by examining the unique markings left on bullets and cartridge cases, as the mechanics can leave marks on these elements. Specific marks can be caused by specialised mechanics, and when those markings are matched, they lead to those specific firearms. Examining cartridge cases can help identify firearms, as the guns leave microscopic marks on the cartridge case. So investigators can compare these markings from a bullet or cartridge from a crime scene to those of a suspect’s gun. In addition to that, the pattern of gunshot residue can help investigators determine the proximity of how far the shooter was from the victim or target.

Why It Matters

Forensic ballistics often plays a critical role in criminal investigations. It allows investigators to link suspects to crime scenes by matching bullets and cartridges to specific firearms that could be found in the possession of the suspect. In court, an expert testimony on ballistic evidence can be pivotal to criminal trials, challenging or confirming a suspect’s alibi.

Forensic ballistics plays a fascinating and important role in the world of crime solving and providing justice for crimes. Next blog, we’ll be diving further into this banging field.

This is Aiza Jamil signing out!

I am a forensics sleuth. What's your mystery to solve?