What does the term "blowback" refer to in a forensic context?

In the forensic context, "blowback" refers to the phenomenon where material is expelled back towards the source of a force, particularly in shooting incidents. When a firearm is discharged, gases and debris can be propelled in various directions due to the dynamics of the explosion and the projectile's path. This is especially relevant in forensic investigations to establish the position of a shooter or the direction in which the shots were fired, as it can indicate how close the victim was to the shooter, where the weapon was aimed, and whether someone could have been shot at close range. The analysis of blowback can provide crucial evidence in reconstructing crime scenes and understanding the events that unfolded during a shooting.

Other options, while related to forensic work, do not accurately capture the specific meaning of "blowback" in this context. For example, gunshot residue analysis, cleaning crime scenes, and retrieving evidence from clothing pertain to other aspects of forensic investigations, rather than the specific dynamics of material behavior in relation to a firearm's discharge.