Diagram Two Bullet Holes and Label the Types of Cracks

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The Answer is To analyze bullet holes in a glass pane and determine the sequence in which the bullets were fired, forensic experts look at the types of cracks formed. When a bullet penetrates glass, it typically creates two types of cracks: radial and concentric.

Radial cracks are those that radiate outwards from the point of impact, like the spokes of a wheel. They are formed by the initial force of the bullet hitting the glass. Concentric cracks are circular or oval lines that encircle the point of impact, resulting from the glass bending and vibrating from the shock of the bullet's impact.

Here's how you might diagram two bullet holes with their respective cracks:

```
[Glass Pane]
---------------------
| |
| * R1 |
| *** | |
| ***** | |
| *** | |
| * C1 |
| |
| R2 |
| | * |
| | *** |
| | ***** |
| | *** |
| | * C2|
---------------------
```

In this diagram:
- `*` represents the point of impact where the bullet went through.
- `R1` and `R2` represent radial cracks from bullet holes 1 and 2, respectively.
- `C1` and `C2` represent concentric cracks from bullet holes 1 and 2, respectively.

To determine the sequence of the bullets shot, forensic experts look at the termination points of the radial cracks. When a radial crack from one bullet hole stops at a radial crack from another bullet hole, it indicates that the bullet associated with the stopping crack was fired second. This is because the first bullet's radial cracks have already weakened the glass structure, and when the second bullet hits, its radial cracks cannot pass through the pre-existing weakened structure created by the first bullet's impact.

In the diagram above, if radial crack `R2` stops at radial crack `R1`, it would suggest that the bullet creating `R1` was fired first, and the bullet creating `R2` was fired second. If there are concentric cracks, the sequence can also be determined by looking at which concentric cracks are interrupted by radial cracks from the other bullet hole.

It's important to note that this is a simplified explanation and actual forensic analysis can be much more complex, taking into account factors such as the angle of impact, the type of glass, and the velocity of the bullets.

Diagram Two Bullet Holes and Label the Types of Cracks

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