Crashes and Collapses, Revised Edition

Praise for the previous edition:

"...[an] interesting book...an ideal primer for teachers, aspiring forensic scientists and engineers, as well as members of the general public...valuable..."—Journal of Forensic Sciences

"Anyone who is interested in forensic science would find this book to be a powerful reference about the application of the field."—NSTA Recommends

Engineering scientists in motor vehicle crash investigations use forensic evidence to measure and analyze the variables involved in a car crash. Crashes and Collapses, Revised Edition examines forensic cases and investigative methods from the forensic engineering sciences, which include the physical sciences as well as all of the engineering fields. The engineering sciences dominate forensic investigations of events underlying civil disputes while also playing an important role in criminal investigations, especially in those in which a crime has been disguised as an accident.

Crashes and Collapses, Revised Edition provides middle and high school students with a unique look at this area of forensic science. After providing a history of forensic engineering science, this compelling eBook goes on to introduce Newton's laws of motion, which underlie accident reconstruction; the critical-speed-scuff method for determining the speed of cars; the obstacles confronting forensic investigators; and more. The eBook also provides enlightening looks at specific cases of crashes and collapses, presenting both the facts and analyses.

Chapters include:



History and Guiding Principles of Forensic Engineering Science

Accident Reconstruction: Getting Started

Accident Reconstruction: Moving into High Gear

Speed from Critical-Speed Scuffs

A Double Murder Poorly Disguised as an Accident?

The Crash of the Merchant Vessel Tamano

Subway Stop

Crane Collapse

Scaffold Collapse

Bringing It All Together: Lessons Conveyed.