Comparison of the properties of synthetic and animal ballistic gelatine in forensic investigations = Porównanie właściwości syntetycznej i zwierzęcej żelatyny balistycznej w badaniach kryminalistycznych

INTRODUCTION: Ballistic gelatine is widely used as a medium for simulating human tissue in ballistic research. Its ability to faithfully replicate how tissue responds to projectile penetration makes it a valuable tool in ballistic trauma analysis. This article outlines its applications, traces the evolution of this research technique, and highlights its key limitations. Wound ballistics is a branch of terminal ballistics that focuses on the effects of projectile penetration into the human or animal body, specifically the behavior of projectiles within biological tissues. The material presented here examines and demonstrates the potential for imaging bullet behavior in soft- ‑tissue simulants, animal ballistic gelatine, and synthetic ballistic gelatine. The use of soft‑tissue simulants allows for the observation of temporal cavity formation and the assessment of wound physiology and injury severity. The material presented here addresses an existing information gap and outlines research opportunities in the field of terminal ballistics (wound ballistics). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two soft‑tissue substitutes, animal ballistic gelatine and synthetic ballistic gelatine, were used. A ballistic experiment was selected as the research method, and the researcher employed analysis, comparison, synthesis, abstraction, and deduction as methodological approaches. During the experiment, physical parameters were recorded to evaluate the projectile's movement within the tissue. RESULTS: As a result of the experiment, significant differences were observed in the imaging of key wound‑ballistics parameters, including the entry and exit wounds, the permanent cavity, and the temporal cavity. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the answers to the research questions, the hypothesis can be confirmed: animal ballistic gelatine and synthetic ballistic gelatine, when used as soft‑tissue surrogates, demonstrate similar potential for reconstructing bullet penetration, but they differ in the level of detail with which injury characteristics are imaged.