Basics of Forensic Science: Track Marks (Foot, Shoe, Tire) Basics
Published:
Questions
30
Duration
30 min
Faculty-reviewed
0
Updated
26 May 2026
About this mock
UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit VIII drill on track mark evidence: the identification, documentation, and recovery of footmarks, shoe prints, and tire impressions at a crime scene. The mock covers the distinction between 2D surface marks (dust prints, dry-residue shoe prints) and 3D impressed marks (depressions in soil, mud, or snow), casting media including dental stone (the current preferred medium), Mikrosil silicone rubber, and plaster of Paris (older method), and photographic protocols using oblique (raking) light, the ABFO No. 2 scale, a camera-on-tripod with the lens axis perpendicular to the print plane. Class versus individual characteristics of footwear and tire evidence are examined alongside SWGTREAD guidelines used in forensic laboratories including the CFSL Chandigarh footwear and tire impression section.
The mock also tests footprint anatomy (heel, arch, ball, toes and their medico-legal relevance), the difference between barefoot and shod track analysis, basic tire tread pattern classifications (highway ribbed, all-season, off-road knobby), and wear patterns as accidentally acquired individual characteristics. Special recovery techniques for snow impressions, Snow Print Wax and sulphur cement casting, and electrostatic dust lifting (EDLIR/ESDA) for latent 2D shoe prints on hard floors are included. Questions are pitched at the definitional and procedural level calibrated for first-pass UGC-NET Forensic Science Paper II preparation and NFSU MSc entrance revision, referencing Saferstein Criminalistics 12th ed., Bodziak's Footwear Impression Evidence (2nd ed.), and SWGTREAD documentation.
Topics covered:
- Foot mark vs shoe print vs tire impression: type distinctions
- 2D (dry surface) vs 3D (impressed) track marks and recovery methods
- Casting media: dental stone, Mikrosil silicone, plaster of Paris
- Photographic protocol: oblique light, ABFO No. 2 scale, perpendicular axis
- Class vs individual characteristics per SWGTREAD guidelines
- Footprint anatomy and barefoot versus shod identification
- Tire tread classifications and wear patterns
- Snow Print Wax, sulphur casting, and electrostatic dust lifting (EDLIR)
Allow 30 minutes.
Sources & references
Questions in this mock are written and verified against the following sources. Citations are recorded per question and shown in the explanation after submission.
- cited in 22 questions
Bodziak, William J. — Footwear Impression Evidence: Detection, Recovery and Examination, 2nd Edition, CRC Press
Chapter 4: Photography of Footwear Impressions — camera axis perpendicular to impression plane
- cited in 5 questions
Saferstein, Richard — Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 12th Edition, Pearson
Chapter 2: Physical Evidence — SWGTREAD guidelines and footwear impression examination standards
- cited in 3 questions
Sharma, B.R. — Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, 5th Edition, Universal Law Publishing
Chapter on Footprints and Footmarks — plantar anatomy and impression sequence
How our mocks are built
Questions are written and edited by the ForensicSpot team and cited from peer-reviewed forensic textbooks, official syllabi and primary case law. Each one is verified before publishing. Detailed explanations show after you submit, so the test stays a real test. See a mistake? Tell us.
Common questions
What does the Basics of Forensic Science: Track Marks (Foot, Shoe, Tire) Basics mock cover?+
UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit VIII drill on track mark evidence: the identification, documentation, and recovery of footmarks, shoe prints, and tire impressions at a crime scene. The mock covers the distinction between 2D surface marks (dust prints, dry-residue shoe prints) and 3D impressed marks (depressions in soil, mud, or snow), casting media including dental stone (the current preferred medium), Mikrosil silicone rubber, and plaster of Paris (older method), and photographic protocols using
How many questions and how long is the test?+
30 multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes total. Difficulty: easy. Tier: Premium.
Who is this mock for?+
Forensic science students and aspirants who want timed, exam-style practice with explanations and verified source citations on Basics of Forensic Science, NET. Useful for postgraduate entrance preparation and for BSc / MSc forensic students testing their recall under time.
Are the questions reviewed?+
Each question carries a verified source citation. Faculty review for individual questions is in progress.
Do I need an account to take this mock?+
Yes, a free ForensicSpot account is required to start a timed attempt — this lets you save progress, see per-question explanations after submission, and track your topic-level performance over time.