Science: Forensics Case 11 - Ashes to Ashes: Using evaporation rate to identify an unknown liquid

by Texas Instruments

Overview

In this activity, students understand that evaporation rate is a characteristic property of a liquid. Based on this fact, they identify the solution and the likely accelerant in a case of arson. They compare the evaporation rates of the accelerants found with the suspects with those near the crime site.

Key Steps

Each graph that students make will show a decrease of temperature as each liquid evaporates. Then they will compare the temperature differences to identify the suspect who had traces of the matching accelerant.
The graphs of each unknown is compared to the known sample found at the crime scene. Which substance belonging to which suspect came closest?

Related Activities

Murder in the First Degree - The Death of Mr. Spud
Forensics Case 2 - Bouncing Back: Using ground-penetrating radar to locate buried objects
Forensics Case 3 - Name That Tune: Matching musical tones through waveform analysis
Forensics Case 4 - Flipping Coins: Density as a characteristic property
Forensics Case 5 - The Ink Is Still Wet: Using colorimetry to identify an unknown ink
Forensics Case 6 - Measuring Momentum: Using distance moved after impact to estimate velocity
Forensics Case 7 - Drug Tests: Identifying an unknown chemical
Forensics Case 8 - No Dumping: Using soil characteristics to link suspects to a crime scene
Forensics Case 9 - Killer Cup of Coffee: Using colorimetry to determine concentration of a poison
Forensics Case 10 - Dropped at the Scene: Blood spatter analysis
Forensics Case 12 - Hit and Run: Using information from an event data recorder to reconstruct an ac
Forensics Case 13 - Life in the Fast Lane: Using skid marks to determine vehicle speed
Forensics Case 14—Hot Air, Cold Body: Using Newton's Law of Cooling to Determine Time of Death

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EasyData® for TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus

Vernier EasyData™ for TI-84 Plus CE

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Science: Forensics Case 11 - Ashes to Ashes: Using evaporation rate to identify an unknown liquid

Overview

Key Steps

Murder in the First Degree - The Death of Mr. Spud

Forensics Case 2 - Bouncing Back: Using ground-penetrating radar to locate buried objects

Forensics Case 3 - Name That Tune: Matching musical tones through waveform analysis

Forensics Case 4 - Flipping Coins: Density as a characteristic property

Forensics Case 5 - The Ink Is Still Wet: Using colorimetry to identify an unknown ink

Forensics Case 6 - Measuring Momentum: Using distance moved after impact to estimate velocity

Forensics Case 7 - Drug Tests: Identifying an unknown chemical

Forensics Case 8 - No Dumping: Using soil characteristics to link suspects to a crime scene

Forensics Case 9 - Killer Cup of Coffee: Using colorimetry to determine concentration of a poison

Forensics Case 10 - Dropped at the Scene: Blood spatter analysis

Forensics Case 12 - Hit and Run: Using information from an event data recorder to reconstruct an ac

Forensics Case 13 - Life in the Fast Lane: Using skid marks to determine vehicle speed

Forensics Case 14—Hot Air, Cold Body: Using Newton's Law of Cooling to Determine Time of Death

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