THE FORENSIC BALLISTIC ARCHIVE: Mission FACT & FACT PLUS 2026
The following questions focus on advanced ballistics concepts, including firearm mechanics, wound ballistics, and recent legal/investigative standards relevant to the 2026 Fact and Fact Plus examinations.
Which of the following describes the 'Walker Test' in forensic ballistics?
A) Determination of the presence of lead at the entry wound.
B) Detection of nitrite residues in gunpowder patterns.
C) Measurement of the velocity of a projectile using a chronograph.
D) Identification of the primer composition through SEM-EDX.
In the context of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act, the use of a "Zip Gun" or improvised firearm falls under which classification of ballistic evidence?
A) Standard Rifled Arms
B) Country-made Firearms
C) Smooth-bore Sporting Arms
D) Non-lethal Projectile Launchers
The phenomenon where a bullet tumbles end-over-end in flight or upon entering a medium of higher density is known as:
A) Gyroscopic Drift
B) Yaw
C) Keyholing
D) Precession
According to the Piezometric method of internal ballistics, "Pressure" is measured at which specific point in the cycle of fire?
A) At the muzzle during exit.
B) Within the chamber during propellant combustion.
C) Along the rifling grooves during acceleration.
D) At the firing pin impact site.
A "Tattooing" or "Stippling" pattern around a gunshot wound is primarily caused by:
A) Smoke and soot deposition.
B) Hot gases burning the skin.
C) Unburnt and semi-burnt gunpowder particles striking the skin.
D) Metal fragments from the bullet jacket.
The "Choke" in a shotgun is a constriction at the muzzle designed to:
A) Increase the recoil for the shooter.
B) Control the spread of the shot pellets.
C) Increase the velocity of the wad.
D) Facilitate the use of rifled slugs only.
Which of the following is considered a 'Class Characteristic' of a fired cartridge case?
A) Striations on the primer cup from a rough firing pin.
B) Micro-stamped serial numbers on the base.
C) The shape and location of the extractor/ejector marks.
D) Unique accidental scratches on the breech face.
In Terminal Ballistics, the 'Temporary Cavity' is caused by:
A) The physical path of the bullet crushing tissue.
B) The transfer of kinetic energy causing a radial stretching of tissues.
C) The vacuum created behind a supersonic projectile.
D) The chemical reaction between the lead core and body fluids.
When analyzing "GSR" (Gunshot Residue) using SEM-EDX, the presence of which three elements is typically considered 'unique' to primer discharge?
A) Lead, Barium, and Antimony.
B) Iron, Copper, and Zinc.
C) Potassium, Sulfur, and Charcoal.
D) Aluminum, Magnesium, and Titanium.
The 'Greenwood and Burrard' formula is traditionally used in ballistics to calculate:
A) The remaining velocity of a bullet at a distance.
B) The height of the trajectory peak.
C) The probability of a hit on a standard target.
D) The recoil energy of a shoulder-fired weapon.
Answer Key
| Q. No | Answer | Concept |
| 1 | B | Chemical tests for GSR (Nitrites). |
| 2 | B | Classification of improvised weapons. |
| 3 | C | Terminal/External ballistics stability. |
| 4 | B | Internal ballistics (Chamber pressure). |
| 5 | C | Wound ballistics (Range of fire). |
| 6 | B | Shotgun ballistics and spread. |
| 7 | C | Toolmark identification (Class vs. Individual). |
| 8 | B | Wound ballistics (Energy transfer). |
| 9 | A | Instrumental analysis of GSR. |
| 10 | A | External ballistics (Velocity decay). |
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