NCJ Number
140082
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 1380-1385
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Because law enforcement and laboratory personnel must satisfy both criminal and health and safety codes when dealing with materials seized at clandestine laboratories, equations are derived to calculate volumes in partially filled round bottom and Erlenmeyer flasks by using simple hand-held calculators.
Abstract
The calculations are made from dimensional measurements of the vessels and the height of liquid inside the vessels. The round bottom flask and the Erlenmeyer flask can be considered mathematically to be solids of revolution of appropriate geometrical shapes around an axis producing circular cross-sections. These cross-sections can then be integrated with respect to the distance along that axis, such that the volume of the solid for any value along the axis can be determined. The round bottom flask can be considered as the sphere generated by revolving around the x-axis a circle tangent to the y-axis at the origin. The Erlenmeyer flask can be considered as the cone generated by revolving around the x-axis a straight line that intersects both axes. By making these measurements at the scene of clandestine laboratory seizures and taking representative samples, the excess quantity of materials seized can be taken directly to waste disposal without causing a hazardous materials storage problem. 3 references and 2 figures