Projectile entry angle determination.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Ballistics
• Physics

Background:

• Accurate determination of projectile entry angles is crucial in forensic analysis.
• Traditional methods using the sine function are prone to significant errors at small angles (<20 degrees).
• Internal deflection in 3D targets further complicates angle estimation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a more accurate method for determining small projectile entry angles.
• To compare the accuracy of a novel bullet tip scale against the sine function method.

Main Methods:

• Development of a bullet tip scale tailored to projectile dimensions.
• Comparative analysis of measurement errors between the tip scale and sine function calculations.
• Testing on targets not subject to stretching.

Main Results:

• The bullet tip scale provides significantly more accurate angle determination for entry angles less than 20 degrees.
• The sine function method exhibits high relative error at these small angles.
• The sine function remains suitable for entry angles greater than 20 degrees.

Conclusions:

• The bullet tip scale is a superior tool for measuring small projectile entry angles (<20 degrees).
• This method enhances accuracy in ballistic investigations.
• Optimal method selection depends on the measured entry angle.